IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


Hi    12.5 


US 


|I.25|U,,.6 

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► 

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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 
WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14SS0 

(716)  irausos 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Instilut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 


D 


D 
D 


n 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommag6e 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur6e  et/ou  peilicul^e 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


□    Coloured  maps/ 
Cartes  g6ographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


r~|    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
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appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout6es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  film^es. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplimentaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m^thode  norma'e  de  filmage 
sont  indiqufo  ci-dessous. 


I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


D 
D 

D 
IZI 


D 
D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag^es 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restauries  et/ou  pelliculdes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcolordes,  tachetdes  ou  piqudes 

Pages  detacheu/ 
Pages  ddtachdes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Quality  indgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplimentaire 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
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ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  filmies  d  nouveau  de  fapon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


The  c 
totht 


Theii 
possll 
of  th( 
filmin 


Origir 
begin 
the  la 
sion, 
other 
first  p 
sion.  { 
or  illu 


Thele 
shall  ( 
TINUI 
which 

IVIaps, 
differ< 
entire 
begini 
right  i 
requir 
methc 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiquA  ci-dessous 

10X                            14X                             18X                            22X 

26X 

30X 

v/ 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

plaire 
B8  details 
iques  du 
int  modifier 
xiger  une 
de  filmage 


Id/ 
iqudes 


taire 


I  by  errata 
med  to 

nent 

,  une  pelure, 

>  fapon  d 

e. 


The  copy  filmed  hi  re  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of; 

Library  of  the  Pubiic 
Archives  of  Canada 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  Iceeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

IVIaps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  retios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


1 

2 

3 

32X 

1 


L'exemplaire  filmi  fut  reproduit  grice  A  la 
gAn6rosit6  de: 

La  bibiiothique  des  Archives 
publiques  du  Canada 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  4t4  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soln,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetA  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimte  sont  film6s  en  commengant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'Impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmis  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'Impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
dernlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  rMuction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  il  est  fiimi  A  psrtir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite. 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcesssire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


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• 


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■^J   TRAViLS 

AW  AI>VENTpSlES 


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IN 


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"■■"»»•>•**  ■  ■—«•  »»ii»-. 


AND 


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TERMITOSlMS, 


THE  IBAns  1780  AMdIP^O. 


* 


IN  TWO  PA^TS. 


4 


^'?; 


-■^i' ' 


^TAI.E3|ANDEII|pENRY,  ESQ. 


■  lu. 


'"t««ai«*l.<faL*i«  , 


P&tlTTBO  AND  PUltiSHBD  bt  |.  &ILET. 


••M 


'^"^/r 


I'^as! 


^^^*f^ 


* 


DISTRICT  OF  NBW- 


BE  IT  REMEMBERED)/  That  on  the  fWelfth  ^y  of  October, 
ill  the  thirty-fourth '  year  vi  the  Iiidepei|dend»  of  the  United 
States  of   Amerioa,  Isaac  Riley,  of  the  said   diitriet,  hath  de- 
]iqfited  in  this  oflSce  the  title  of  a  book,  tihe  right  iHhereof  he  obdmf  ^^ 
<«t;  proprietor,  in  the  words  following,  |0i  wit :  m 

*'  Travels  and  Adventares  in  Canada  and  the  Indian  Tenitories^ 
"  between  the  yean  1760  and  1776.  In  two  parts.  9y  Ai,tXikv4 
"  PER  Henry,  Esq."  .'-^^ 

m  In  conformity  to  the  aet  of  theClini 
entitled,  **  An  aet  for  the  encouragement 
**  copies,  of  maps,  charts,  and  books,  tcr^ 


'*  tors  of  such  copies,  during  the  fmifs-j 

to  an  aet,  entitled^  "  An  act,  simpleiiienti 

"  act    for  the  encouragement  oi  learning,^  , 

"  maps,  charts   and  books,  to  the  anthori,^ 

**  copies,  during  the  times  thereib^  mentidii|f 

"  benefiu  thereof  to  the  arts  of  deJlfung,  eii|;niving  and  etching  his- 

"  tori  cal  and  otlier  prints.** 

Charles  clinton,         ' 

'^  CIcrkoftheDutrMtofl^w.TorL 


of  the  United  States, 

by  sgouringthe 

Jadjpt  and  proprie- 

men^ioned^''  and 

k'^  Mi'MWBt,*''  entitled,  an 

BuHpf  t)te  eopies  (Mf 

piNii^ietors  of  such 

and  extending  the 


■If 


■.AV^ui:'\-.::^ 


TO 
TftE  RIGHT  HONOURABLE 

SIR  JOSEPH  BANKS,  BARONET  ; 

KNIGHT-COMPANION 

OF  THE  MOST  HONOURABLE  ORDER  OF  THE  BATH  ; 

ONE  OF  HIS  MAJESTY'S 

MOST  HONOURABLE  PRIVY  COUNCIL; 

PRESIDENT  OF  THE  ROYAL  SOCIETY,  F.  S.  A. 

8cc.  8cc.  &C. 


^ 


THIS  VOLUME 


^^    WITH  GREAT  DEFERENCE, 
^'S  MOS^   RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED, 

BY 
HIS  VERY  DEVOTED, 

AND  VERY  HVMIILE  SERVANT, 

t 


**e 


ALEXANDER  HENRY. 


Mmtreal,  October  20th,  1809f 


■m 


"if: 


T^U'-K 


A^vmy: 


PREFACE. 


>-v 


1% 


A  PREMATURE  attempt  to  share  in  the 
fur-trode  of  Canada^  directly  on  the  conquest 
of  the  country y  ted  the  autlior  of  the  foUcnving 
pages  into  situations  of  some  danger  and  sin- 
gularity ;  and  the  pursuit,  under  better  auspices, 
of  the  same  branch  of  commerce^  occasioneil  him 
to  visit  various  parts  of  the  Indian  Territories. 

'.'■.•■  *  •  ' 

These  transactions  occupied  a  period  of  sixteen 
yearSf  commencing  nearly  with  theauthor^s  setting 
out  in  life.  The  details,  from  time  to  time  commit- 
ted to  paper,  form  the  subject  matter  of  the 
present  volume. 


% 


'■% 


The  heads,  under  which,  for  the  most  part,  they 
will  be  found  to  range  themselves  are  three:  first, 
the  incidents  or  adventures  in  which  the  author 
was  engaged;  secondly,  the  observations,  on  the 
geography  and  natural  history  of  the  countries 
visited,  which  he  was  able  to  make,  and  to  preserver 


■■*t.^ 


3'.  41 


"■»*iiufci(Cf"'«-;.'P-'. 


VI 


and  J  thmUy^  the  views  o/*  society  and  manners, 
among  apart  of  the  Indians  of  North  America, 
whichit  has  belonged  to  the  course  of  fus narrative 
to  develope. 


>  Upon  the  lasty  the  author  may  he  permitted 
to  remark,  that  he  has  by  no  means  undertaken  to 
write  the  general  history  of  the fAmerican  Indians, 
nor  any  theory  of  their  morals,  or  their  merits, 
^With  but  few  exceptions y  it  has  been  the  entire 
scope  of  his  design,  simply  to  relate  those  parti- 
cttlarfatiSf  which  are  eitheh  identijied  with  his 
own  fortunes,  or  with  the  truth  of  which  he  is 
otherwise  personally  conversant.  All  comment, 
therefore,  in 'almost  all  instances,  is  studiously 
avoided. 


Montreal,  October 20th,  i 809. 


manners, 

America, 

J  narrative 


permitted 
ertaken  to 
m  Indians, 
eir  merits, 
\  the  entire 
lose  parti- 
*d  with  his 
hich  he  is 
f  comment, 
studiously 


'H;,'^:'  '>h 


PART  THE  FIRST, 


■■^ 


.*    . 


u- 


■1^^.  I 


\ 


{•i(^  - 


v,,. 


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\ 

TRAVELS 

AND  ADVENTURES, 


CHAPTER  L 

Jimmies  and  Foyages  between  Ostuegatchie  and 
MontrSaL  Indian  encampments.  Indian  hospi- 
tality, fFinter  travelling,  in  thetvilder  parts  of 
Canada.  Les  Cadres,  the  uppermost  white  settle- 
\ment  on  the  river  Saint- Lawrence.  Author 
prepares  for  a  voyage  to  Michilimacktnac. 

IN  the  year  1760,  when  the  British  arms,  under 
General  Amherst,  were  employed  in  the  reduction 
of  Canada,  I  accompanied  the  expedition,  which, 
subsequently  to  the  surrender  of  Quebec,*  descend- 
ed fh>m  Oswego,  on  Lake  Ontario,  against  Fort 
de  Levi,  one  of  the  ui^)er  posts,  situate  on  an  island, 
which  lies  on  the  south  ^ide  of  the  great  river,  Saint- 
Lawrence,  at  a  short  distano^  below  the  mouth  of 

*  Quebec  surrendered  on  thf;  iSth  of  September,  1759. 


i>. 


THAVELd  AND 


^^# 


CA.  D. 


% 


the  Oswcgatchie.  Fort  de  Levi«un^ndcrcd  on  Ac 
21st  day  of  August,  "seven  days  after  the  com- 
mencement of  the  siege ;  and  General  Amherst  con- 
tinuedhis  voyage  down  the  stream,  carrying  his 
forces  against  Montreal. 

It  happen^,  that  in  this  voyage,  one  of  the  few 
fatal  accidents,  which  are  remembered  to  have  oc- 
ciii#d;  in  that  dangerous,  part  of  the  river,  beloW 
Lake  Saint-Fran9ais,  called  the  Rapides  des  Cadres, 
bcfel  the  British  army.  Several  boats,  loaded  with 
provisions  and  military  stores,  were  lost,  together 
with  upward  of  a  hundred  men.  I  had  three  boats, 
loaded  with  merchandize,  all  of  which  were  lost^ 
and  I  saved  my  life,  only  by  gaining  the  bottom  of 
oneof  my  boats,  which  lay  among  the  rocky  shelves, 
and  (HI  wh;ch  I  continued  for  some  hours,  and  un- 
til I  was  kindly  taken  off,  by  one  of  the  general's 
aides-de-camp. 


The  surrender  of  Montr6al,and,  with  it,  the  sur- 
render of  all  Canada,  followed  that  of  Fort  de  Levi, 
at  only  the  short  interval  of  three  days;  and,  pro- 
posing to  avail  myself  of  the  new  market,  which 
was  thus  thrown  open  to  British  adventure,  I 
hastened  to  Albany,  where  my  commercial  connec- 
tions were,  and  where  I  procured  a  quantity  of 
goods,  with  which  I  sat  out,  intending  to  carry  them 
to  Montr6aI.  For  this,  however,  tlie  winter  was  too 
near  approached;  I  was  able  only  to  return  to  Fort 


% 


i^djgr 


ADVENTURES. 


de  Levi,  ti>  which  the  conquerors  had  now  given 
the  name  of  Fort  William-Augustus,  and  where 
I  remained  until  the  month  of  January,  in  the  fol- 
Ibwi^gyear. 

^*'  At  this  time,  having  disposed  of  my  goods  to 
the  garrison;  and  the  season,  for  travelling  on  tht 
snow  and  ice,  being  set  in,  I  prepared  to  go  down 
to  Montreal.  The  journey  was  to  be  pelfaHied 
through  a  country,  inhabited  only  by  Indiansand  by 
beasts  of  the  forest,  and  which  presented  to  the 
eye  no  other  change,  than  from  thick  woods,  to  the 
broad  surfeee  of  a  frozen  river.  It  was  neces. 
sary  that  I  should  be  accompanied,  as  weU  by  an 
interpreter  as  by  a  guide,  to  both  of  which  ends,  I 
engaged  the  services  of  a  Canadian,  named  Jolfln-* 
Baptist  Bodoine.  .  't- 


The  snow,  which  lay  upon  the  ground,  was,  by 
this  time,  three  feet  in  depth.  The  hour  of  depar- 
ture  arriving,  I  left  the  fwt,  on  snow-shoes,  an  ar- 
ticle of  equipment  which  I  had  never  used  before, 
and  which  I  found  it  not  a  litde  cUfficult  to  manage. 
I  did  not  avoid  frequent  falls ;  and,  when  down,  I 
was  scarcely  able  to  nse.^ 

At  sunset,  on  the  first  day,  we  reached  an  Indian 
encampment,  of  six  lodges  and  about  twenty  men.^ 
As  these  people  had  been  very  recently  employed 
offenavely,  against  the  English,  in  the  French  sei^'" 


'^^ 


TRAV12«S  AND 


pk.n. 


yiDe,  I  agt«ed  but  rdbictantly  to  tibie  |9)pppsal; 
of  my  guide  and  interpreter,  whieli  vm  n^t^bing 
less,  than  that  we  should  pass  the  night  with  them. 
My  fears  were  somewhat  lulled  by  his  infofma- 
ticMi,  that  he  was  personally  acquainted  with  those 
idio  composed  the  camp^  and  by  his  assurances, 
tiiat  no  danger  was  to  be  apprehended ;  aiHl,bdng 
gfea|}>i  fatigued,  I  entered  one  of  the  lodges^  where 
ipiiicirtly  fell  asleep. 

Unfortunately,  Bodoine  had  brought,  upoi;&  his 
back,  a  small  keg  of  rum,  which,  while  I  slept,  be 
opened,  not  only  for  himself,  but  for  the  general 
gratificstion  of  his  friends;  a  circumstance,  of 
which  I  was  first  made  ani^are^  in  being .  awaken* 
ed,  by  a  kidc  on  the  breast,  from  the  foot  of  one  of 
my  hpste,  and  by  a  yell,  or  Indian  cry,  which  ini- 
mediately  succeeded.  At  the  instant  of  opening 
my  eyes,  I  saw  that  my  assailant  was  struggling 
#ith  one  of  his  companions,  who,  inxonjunction 
with  several  women^  was  endeavouring  to  restrain 
his  ferocity.  Perceivkig,  however,  in  the  counte- 
nance of  my  enemy,  the  most  determined  mis* 
chief,  I  sprung  upon  my  feet,  receiving,  in  so  doing, 
a  wound  in  my  hand,  from  a  knife,  which  had  been 
raised  to  give  a  more  serious  wound.  While  the 
rest  of  my  guardians  continued  their  charitable 
efforts  for  my  protection,  an  old  woman  took 
hold  of  my  arm,  and,  making  signs  that  I  should 
accompany  heir,  led  me  out  of  the  lodge,  and  then 


tm^ 


AOYBNTURB^ 


piv6  me  to  imderstand,  that  unless  I  fied,  or  could 
(kmccal  myself,  I  should  eeitakily  beiuUed. 

My  guide  was  absent;  and,  without  lus  direc* 
tion,  I  was  at  a  loss  where  to  go.  In  all  the  sur* 
roiuiding  lodges,  th«%  was  the  same  howiing  and 
violence,  asm  that  from  which!  had  escaped.  I 
was  without  my  snow-shoes,  and  had  only  s6  imM^i 
clothing  as  I  had  fortunately  left  upon  ml^^|NS& 
I  lay  down  to  sleep.  It  was  now  one  o'dlk^  in 
ihe  morning,  in  die  mon^  of  January,  and  in  a 
a  climate  of  extreme  rigour. 

I  was  unable  to  address  a  single  word,  in  her 
own  language,  to  the,  old  woman  who  had  thus  be* 
friended  me  ;  but,  on  Repeating  the  name  of  Bo^ 
doine,  I  soon  found  that  she  comprehend^  my 
meaning ;  and,  having  first  pointed  to  a  large^  tree, 
behind  which,  she  made  signs,  that  until  sher  could 
find  my  guide,  I  should  hide  myself,  she  left  me, 
on  this  important  errand.  Meanwhile,  I  made  my 
way  to  the  tree,  and  seated  myself  in  the  snow. 
From  my  retreat,  t  beheld  several  Indians,  running 
from  one  lodge  to  another,  as  if  to  quell  the  distur- 
bance  ^hich  prevailed. 

The  coldness  of  the  atmosphere  congealed  die 
Uood  about  my  wound,  and  prevented  further 
bleeding ;  and  the  anxious  state  of  my  mind  ren- 
dered me  almost  insensible  to  bodily  suffering.  At 


i 


THAVEU  AND 


lA.la. 


the  end  of  hilf  to  hour,  I  Heard  my^lf  called, 1>y 
Bodoine,  whom,  on  going  to  lum,  I  found  as  much 
intoxicated,  and  as  much  a  savage,  as  the  Indians 
themselves ;  but,  he  was  nevertheless  able  to  fetch 
my  snow-shoes,  from  the  lodge  in  which  I  had  left 
^em,  and  to  point  out  tome  a  beaten  path,  which 
presently  entered  a  deep  wood,  and  which  he  told 
me  I  must  follow. 

'    %  ^-"  -  ■  ■  ^    ' . 

After  walking  about  three  miles,  I  heard,  at 
le|]gth,  the  foot-steps  of  my  guide,  who  had  now 
.  overtaken  me.     I  thoi%ht  it  most  prudent  to  ab^, 
stain  from  all  reproof ;  and  we  proceeded  on  our  v 
march  till  sun-rise,  when  \ve  arrived  at  a  solitary  ^ 
Indian  hunting-lodge,    built    with    branches    of 
trees,  and  of  which  the  only  inhabitants  were  ati 
In^an  and  his  wife.     Here,  the  warmth  of  a  large 
ire  reconciled  me  to  a  second  experiment  on  In- 
dian hospitality.     The  result  was  very  diffei-ent 
fit>m  that  of  the  one  which  had  preceded  it ;  for, 
after  relieving  my  thirst  with  melted  snow,  and  my 
hunger  with  a  plentiful  meal  of  venison,  of  which 
there  was  a  great  quantity  in  the  lodge,  and  which 
was  liberally  set  before  me,  I  resumed  my  jour- 
ney, full  of  sentiments  of  gratitude,  such  as  almost 
obliterated  the  recollection  of  what  had  befallen 
me,  among  the  friends  of  my  benefactors. 


From  the  hunting-lodge,  I  followed  my  guide 
till  evening,  when  we  encamped  on  the  banks 
of  the  Saint-Lawrence,  making  a  lire,  and  sup- 


V 


irsij 


AOV£NTUR£$. 


•k 


piiig  on  the  meat  with  which  our  wallets  had  been 
filled  in^the  momifig.  ,    i 

While  I  indulged  myself  in  rest^  my  guide  visit- 
ed the  shore,  where  he  discovered  a  bark  canoe, 
wMchhad  been  left  there,  in  the  beginning  of  the 
winter,  by  some  Indian  way-fiurers.  We  were  now . 
at  the  head  of  the  Longue  Sault,  ohepf  those^por- 
tions.of  the  river,  in  which  it  passes  over  a,js}ia|ow, 
inclining  and  rocky  be^,  and  where  its  motion  conse* 
quently  prevents  it  from  freezing,  even  in  the  cold- 
est part  of  the  year  ;  and  my  guide,  as  soon  as  he, 
had  mad^  his  discovery,  recommended,  that  wc 
should  go  by  water  down  the  rapids,  as  the  means 
of  saving  time,  of  shortening  our  journey,  and  of 
avoiding  a  numerous  body  of  Indians,  then  hunt- 
ing on  the  banks  below.     The  last  of  these  argu- 
ments was,  with  me,  so  powerful,  that  though  a 
bark  canoe  was  a  vehicle  tp  which  I  was  altogedier 
a  stranger  ;  though  this  was  a  very  small  one, 
of  only  sixteen  Or  eighteen  feet  in  length,*  and 
much  out  of  repair;  and  though  the  misfortune 
_  wWch  I  had  experienced,  in  the  navigation  of  these 
rocky  parts  of  the  Saint-Lawrence,  when  descend- 
ing with  the  army,  naturally  presented  itself  to  my 
mind,  as  a  still  fiirther  discouragement,  yet  I  woa 
not  long  in  resolving  to  undertake  the  voyage. 

Accordingly,  after  stopping  the  leaks,  as  com- 
pletely as  we  were  able,  we  embarked,  and  pro- 

*  •  There  are  still  smaller.      ' 


-V  '.y 


THAVELS  Aim 


[A^O. 


Hi- 


m 


deeded;  My  fears  were  'not  lismdned,  by  percdv  • 
ing  that  the  least  unskilful  motion  was  sufficient  to 
overset  the  ticklish  craft  into  which  I  had  ventured ; 
by  the  reflection,  that  a  shock,  comparatively  gbn- 
tie,  from  a  mass  of  rock  or  ice,  wi»  more  than  its 
frail  material  could  sustain ;  nor  by  observing  that 
the  ice,  which  lined  the  shores  of  the  river,  was 
too  strong  to  be  pushed  through,  and,  at  the  same 
time,  too  weak  to  be  walked  upon,  so  that  j  in  the 
event  of  disaster,  it  would  be  almost  impossi- 
ble to  reach  the  land.  In  fact,  we  had  not  pro* 
ceeded  more  than  a  mile,  when  our  canoe  became 
full  of  water,  and  it  was  not  till  after  a  long  search, 
that  we  found  a  place  of  safety. 

Treading,  once  more,  upon  diy  ground,  I  should 
willingly  have  faced  the  wilderness  and  all  its  In- 
diaQs,  rather  than  embark  again;  but  my  guide  in- 
formed me  that  I  was  upon  an  island,  and  I  had 
therefore  no  choice  before  me.  We  istopped  the 
leaks  a  second  time,  and  recommenbed  our  voyage, 
which  we  performed  with  success,  but  sitting,  all 
the  way,  in  six  inches  of  water.  In  this  manner, 
we  arrived  at  the  foot  of  the  rapids,  where  the 
river  was  frozen  all  across.  Here,  we  disembark- 
ed upon  the  ice,  walked  to  the  bank,  made  a  fire, 
and  encdmped  ;  for  such  is  the  phrase  employ  ed* 
in  the  woods  of  Canada. 

At  day -break  the  next  morning,  we  put  on  our 
snow-shoes,  and  con^menced  our  journey  over 
^  ice;  and,  at  ten  o'clock,  arrived  in  sight  of 


y^ii} 


APVENTURES; 


9 


l^ali^  S^t-^i^sus, .  which  is  from  four  t6  six 
m^I^  in  brqadth.  The  wind  was  )iigh,  and  the 
snow,  drifting  over  the  e:^panse,  prevented  us>  at 
times,  from  discovering  the  land,  and  consequent- 
]y  (fof  compass  we  l^  none)  from  pursuing,  with 
oertainty^our  course* 

....         ..'  .  ■■  ,  ,i 

Toiyard  noon,  the  storm  becanie  so  violent,  that 

we  directed  oUr  steps  to  the  shore,  on  th%_.n^b 

side,  by  the  shcoctest  route  nire  could. ;  and,  lippng 

a  fire,  dined  on  the  remains  qf  the  Indian  hunter^s 

bounty.     At  two  o'clock,  ^  ttie  afternoon,  when 

the;   FJf^   bad   subsided,  and    the   atmospher^ 

grown  more  clear^  I  discerned  SLcarwle,  or  sledge, 

moving  our  way,  and  immediately  sent  my  guide  to 

the  driver,  with  a  re^uejst,  that  he  would  come  to 

my  encampment.    On  his  arrival,  I  agreed  wjidi 

him  to  carry  me  to  Les  C6dres,  a  distance^of  eight 

leagues,  for  a  reward  of  eight  dollars.    The  dri> 

ver  was  a  Canadian^  who  hsd  been  to  the  Indian 

yillage  of  Saint-Regis,  ^  was  now  on  his  return 

to  Les  Cidres,  then  thg  luppermost  white  settle- 

ment  on  the  $aint-]Lawrence. 

'■    «  ■■  ^  • 

tWtf  in  the  evening,  t  reached  Les  C6dre&  and 
Was  carried  to  the  house  of  M*  Leduc^  its  se^gi^uiiorj 
by  whoin  I  was  politely  and  hospitaMy  rec^i^fcd* 
M.  Leduc  being  disjposed  to  converse  mdi  li^,  it 
became  a  subject  of  regretj  that  neither  party  un- 
derstood the  language  of  the  other ;  but,  an  intef- 

2    •'• 


A-t 


io 


tRAVELS  AN^^ 


[A.  1>. 


preter  was  fortunately  foimd,  in  the  peracm  of  a 
seijeant  of  Hb  Majesty's  Eighteenth  Regiment  of 
Foot. 


•ii.iji  » 


it 


lil.b 


i  now  leamedy  that  M.  Ledtic,  in  the  earlier  port 
of  his  life,  had  been  engaged  in  the  fur^trade,  witb 
the  Indians  of  Michilimackinac  and  Lake  Superior. 
He  informed  me  bf  his  ac<|^Uaintance  with  the  In- 
dian languages^  and  his  knowledge  of  furs  ;  and 
gave  ine  to  understand,  that  Michilimackinac  was 
richer,  in  this  commodity,  than  any  other  part  of 
the  world.  He  added,  that  the  Indians  wered 
peaceable  race  of  men,  and  that  an  European  might 
travel;  from  one  side  of  the  continent  to  the  other, 
without  experiencing  insult.  Further,  he  men- 
tioned, that  a  guide^  who  lived  at  no  great  distance 
fi-bm  his  house,  could  confirm  the  truth  of  dll  that 
advanced. 


I,  who  had  previously  thought  of  visiting  Michi- 
iiihackinac,  with  a  view  to  the  Indian  trade,  gave 
the  strictest  attention  to  all  that  fell,  on  this  sub- 
ject, from  my  host ;  ahd,  in  ordey  to  possess  my- 
self, as  far  as  possible,  of  all  that  might  be  collected 
in 'Edition,  I  requested,  that  the  n-t/fdl^  should  be 
i^tlbr.  This  man  arrived  ;  and  a  short  convert 
^tiofiierminated  in  my  engaging  him  to  conduct 
ihyscif,  and  die  canoes  which  I  W'as  to  procure. 


to  Mi^tijUimacl:iBac,  in  tfiQ  montiti  of  Iw^  IMIoiy* 
ing.       ';  :>  - .      :'     ■■'• 

Th^fe  b^iii^,  ftt  tWs  time,  no  goods  in  Montreal, 
adaptecl  to  the  IndiMi  tRide,  wi}*  next  business  was 
to  proceed  to  Albany,  to  make  my  piirphiis(|s 
there.  This  I  did  in  the  be^nning  of  the  month 
of  May,  by  the  way  of  Lake  Champlain ;  and, 
on  the  15th  of  Jime,  arrived  again  in  Mon|f€fil, 
bringing  with  me  my  outfits.  As  I  was  altoge* 
ther  a  stranger  to  the  commerce  in  which  I  was 
engaging,  I  confided  in  the  recommendations,  giv- 
en me,  of  one  Etienne  Campion,  as  my  assistant  $ 
a  part  which  he  uniformly  fulfilled  with  honesty 
and  fidelity.  . 

His  Excellency,  General  Gage,  who  now  com- 
manded in  chief,  in  Canada,  very  reluctantly  grant- 
ed me  the  permission,  at  this  time  requisite,  for 
goingtoMichilimackinac.  No  treaty  of  peacehadyet 
been  made,  between  the  English  and  the  Indians, 
which  latter  were  in  arms,  under  Pontiac,  an  In- 
dian leader,  of  more  than  common  celebrity,  and 
General  Gage  was  therefore  strongly,  and  (as  it 
became  manifest)  but  too  justly  appreliehsive,  that 
both  the  property  and  lives  of  His  Majesty's  sub« 
jects  would  be  very  insecure,  in  the  Indian  coun- 
tries. But,  he  had  already  granted  such  permis- 
sion tp  a  Mr.  Bostwick ;  and  tliis  I  was  able  to  em- 


.■^ 


i4  TRAvj^Mfi^  [A.  a 

.    ) 

ploy,  as  an  argument  against  his  refusal,  in  respect 
to  myseE  General  Gage  compiled  ;  and  m  th^ 
3d  day  of  August,  1761,  after  some  further  delay, 
in  obtaming  a  passport  ^m  the  townrfltttjor,  I  dis^ 
patched  my  canoes  to  Lachine,  there  to  take  in 
thfirkding, 


p:\^^-'t 


.'-<?.(*      .-. ''^ 


A,IU      l-'h 


'4  . 


}M'h 


"^ .;.,-?       i 


"t} 


■'^^\ 


..p^i 


^fw 


%...  ' 


,j> 


'■#r. 


mat 


^  M. 


^^AlL 


jyi^*lii^W;n. 


CHAPTER  IL 


Fayage  from  Monirfalto  MichtUmackimcy  kth 
noes.  Canoe-men*  Lachine,  Saint-Anne,  JUt^ 
Des  Deux  Montagnes.  Indian  mission,  J)es0^T 
tion  of  part  of  the  river  Des  Qutaomis.  IwSans^ 
returning  from  the  chace^^their  opinion  qf  the 
Author's  undertaking.  Claims  of  the  Algonqwns^ 
on  the  banks  qf  the  Outaouais — their  regard  to 
the  right  of  property.  Leave  the  Outaouaist  and 
enter  the  Matawa* 


THE  inland  navigation^  from  Montreal  to  Mi- 
chilimackinac,  may  be  perform£<l>  either  by  the  vray 
of  Lakes,  Ontario  and  Erie,  or  by  the  river  Bes 
Outaouais,  Lake  Nipisingue  and  the  jivpr  Des 
Fran^ais ;  for,  as  well  by  one  as  the  other  of  these 
routes,  we  are  carried  to  Lake  Huron*^  The 
second  is  the  shortest,  and  that  which  is  usually 
pursued  by  the  canoes,  employed  ii^  the  Indian 
trade. 


The  canoes,  which  I  provided  for  my  untder- 
taking,  were,  as  is  usual,  five  fathom  and  a  haSi 
m  length,  and  fotr  feet  and  a  half  in  their  ex- 
treme breadth,  and  formed  of  birch^tree  bark,  a 


14 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  DU 


■^■■> 


«      I 
« 


^- 


quarfer  of  an  inch  in  thidness.  The  bark  is 
lined  with  small  splints  of  cedar-wood  ;  and  the 
vessel  is  Airther  strengthened  with  ribs  of  the  same 
w6od,  of  which  the  two  ends  are  fastened  to  the 
gunwales :  several  bars,  rather  than  seats,  are  also 
laid  across  the  canoe,  flrom  gunwale  to  gunwale. 
T^e  small  roots  of  the  spruce-tree  afford  the 
wattapy  with  which  the  bark  is  sewed ;  and  the 
gufli  of  the  pine-tree  supplies  the  pla^e  of  tar 
and  oakum.  Bark,  some  spare  wattap  and  gum, 
are  always  carHed  in  each  canoe^  for  the  repairs 
which  frequently  become  necessary. 

The  canoes  are  worked,  not  with  oars,  but  with 
paddles;  and,  occasionally,  with  a  ^L  To  each 
canoe  there  are  eight  men  ;  and  to  every  three  or 
four  canoes,  which  constitute  a  brigade^  there  is  a 
gwdcy  or  conductor.  Skilful  men,  at  double  the 
wa^s  of  the  rest,  are  placed  in  th6  head  and  stem. 
They  engage  to  go  from  Montr6al  to  Michili- 
ma(JLinac,  and  back  to  Montreal  again ;  the  mid- 
dle-men at  one  hundred  and  fifty  livres,  and  the 
end-men  at  tla^e  hundred  livres,  each.*  The 
guide  has  the  cbmmand  of  his  brigade,  and  is  an- 
swerable for  all  pillage  and  loss ;  and,  in  return, 
every  man's  wages  is  answerable  to  him*  This 
regulation  was  established  uiijdcr  the  French  go- 
verimient. 

*  These  p»rticuUr9  may  ^  coii||nm«<1  vrith  those,  of  9 
more  xnoderQ  date,  given  in  the  Voyages, of  Sir  AJexan- 
jder  Mackenzie^ 


\ft\.) 


ADVENTURES. 


li 


The  freight  of  a  canoe,  of  the  subalfnce  and  di- 
mensions  which  I  have  detailed,  conflSBta  in  sixty 
pieeei,  or  packages,  ofmerchan^e^  of  the  weight 
of  from  ninety  to  ahundred  pounds  each;  and  provi- 
sions to  the  amount  of  one  thousand  weight.  To 
this  is  to  be  added,  the  weight  erf"  eight  men,  and  of 
eight  bags,  weighing  forty  pounds  each,  one  of 
which  every  m4n  is  privileged  to  put  on  boards 
The  whole  weight  must  therefore  exceed  ei|;fat 
thousard  pounds;  or  may  parhi^s  be  averaged  at 
(burtons. 

The  nature  of  the  navigation,  which  is  to  be 
described.  Will  suffieiently  explain,  why  the  canoe 
is  the  only  vessel  which  can  be  employed  along  its 
course.  The  necessity,  indeed,  becomes  apparent, 
at  the  very  instant  of  oiu*  departure  from  Montreal 
Itself. 

The  Saint-Lawrence,  for  several  mOes,  imme- 
diately above  Montr^,  descends,  Math  a  rapid  cur- 
rent, over  a  shallow  rocky  bed ;  insomuch,  tbat 
even  canoes  themselves,  when  loaded,  cannot  resist 
the  stream,  .and  are  therefore  sent  empty  to  La- 
chine,  where  they  meet  the  merchandize  which  they 
are  to  caity,  and  which  is  transported  thither  by 
land.*    Lachine  is  about  nine  miles  higher  up 


*  La  Chincf  or  China,  has  always  been  the  point  <^  depav- 
txacCi  for  the  upper  countries.  It  owes  its  name  to  the  ex- 
pedi^ns  of  M.  de  la  Alio,  which  were  fitted  out  at  this 
ptaccj  for  the  diB9ovcry  of  a  nprth-west  passage  to  China*, 


,  .1. 

I'll' 


16 


TRAVB13  AHt> 


[A.  ft 


th^  nv^f)  tta  Mon|V|6i|l)  and  is  at.Mie  h(ei4  of  ^ 
MiiAf»  faU^  or  /ra/v,  in  this  part  of  ^  Saint-Law^ 


rwf*. 


O^ttK^  third  of  August,  I  ^^t  my  canoca  t^:I^. 
^Ine;  ai|d|  oq  tl^^liowhi|^l9V>^^ 
with  them,  .for^  Miqhilimackinac.  I^he  x^gf  iSih^re 
^^  to  be  denominated  ail|)(e«  bylhe  title 


so 


of  Ltd^e  Saint- Louia;  the  pKPspisQt  is  wide  and 
cheerful;  and  tfie  village  has  several  welI-buUft« 
houses. 


'  f'' 


!n  a  short  time,  ^<e  reached  the  ra^^s  lAid  carry- 
ing-jplace  of  Saint- Aniie,  two  miles  below  the 
Upper  end  of  the  iskind  of  Montr€^;  andit  isn^t 
l&l  after  ^mi%  diese,  thlit  the  voyage  may  be  pro- 
pcily  sai4  to  ^  commenced.  At  Siednt-Anne's, 
the  men  go  to  confession,  andi  at  the  same  lime, 
ol^  ujp  th^ir  vows  i  foi'  the  saint,  fititii  wtuch  thi^ 
parish  derives  its  name,  atid  to  wliom  its  chilrch  is 
dedicated,  is  ^e  patroness  of  the  Can^aiiis,  in  all 
their  tra^^els  by  Waten 

Theit  is  still  a  flirther  eUstom  to  be  obsei'Ved,  on 
arriving  at  Sauit- Anne's,  and  which  is,  that  d^  dis- 
tributing eight  gallons  of  rum  to  each  canoe  (a  gal- 
lon for  each  man)  for  consumption  during  the 
voyage  \  not  is  it  less  according  to  custom,  to  drink 
the  whole  of  this  liquor  upon  the  spot.—- The  saint, 


irei.J 


ADVENTURES. 


19 


therefore,  and  the  prlesl,  were  no  sooner  ditmUied, 
than  a  acetie  of  intoxication  began,  in  which  my 
men  aurpnited,  if  possible,  the  drunken  Indian,  in 
inngiog,  tg^ting,  a*sd  the  display  of  savage  gesture 
and  conceit.  In  the  morning,  we  reloaded  Che 
canoes,  and  pursued  our  course,  across  the  lake 
Des  Deuk  Montagnes. 

This  lake,  tike  that  of  Saint-Louis,  is  only  a  part 
of  the  estuary  of  the  Outaouais,  which  here  unites 
itself  with  the  Siaint-Lawraice,  or  ratho*,  accordins^ 
to  some,  the  Cataraqui ;  for,  with  these,  the  Saint- 
Lawrence  is  formed  by  the  oonfluence  of  the  Cata- 
raqui and  Outaouak.^ 

At  noon,  we  reached  the  bidian  Mission  ^the 
Seminary  of  Saint-Sulpice,  situate  on  the  north 
bank  of  the  {ake,  with  its  two  villages,  Algonquin  and 
Iroquois,  in  each  of  which  was  reckoned  an  hun- 
dred souls.  Here;  we  i<eceived  a  hospitiMe  recep« 
tion,  and  remained  during  two  hours.  I  was  in- 
ibrmed,  by  one  of  the  missionaries,  ^lat  since  ^ 
conquest  of  the  country,  ^  unrestrained  introduc- 
lion  4)f  s{Hrituous  liquors,  at  this  place,  which  had 
not  been  alk3wed  under  ^e  former  goremment, 
had  occasioned  many  outrages. 

*Thi8  IB  the  Utawtu  of  some  writers,  the  Ottamtay  of  others, 
«ic.  Ice.  Ice.  It  is  ■Ibo  called  the  Grand  ViX^w-^Uifymuk 
JHviere, 

a 


18 


TRAVELS  AN0 


|;a.  I>i 


111! 


il 


'''i; 


.I'l  l;| 


S 

m 


i!         : 


At  two  o'clock  in  tiieirftemoon,  ive  prosecuted 
our  voyage ;  and,  at  sun-set,  disembarked,  and  en- 
camped, at  the  foot  of  the  Longue  Sault.-^Therc 
is  ^Longue  Saitky  both  on  thb  river,  and  on  tHe 
SJttnt-Lawrence.  ' 

At  ten  leagues,  above  the  island  of  MontrSalj  I 
paSiBed  the  limits  of  the  cultivated  lands,  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  Outaouais.  On  the  south,  the 
farms  are  very  few  in  number ;  but  the  soil  has 
every  appearance  of  fertility. *•      ;        uiii 

.;>;In  ascending  tlie  Longue  Sault,  a  distance  of 
three  miles,  my  canoes  were  three  times  unkden^ 
and,  together  with  their  freight,  carried  on  the 
shoulders  of  the  voyageurs.  The  rocky  carrying- 
pkces  are  not  crossed,  without  danger  of.  serious 
accidents,  by  men  bearing  heavy  burdens. 

The  Longue  Sauk  being  passed,  the  Outaouais 
presented,  on  either  side,  only  scenes  of  |)rimitive 
fcH^st,  the  connmon  range  of  the  deer^  the  wolf, 
the  bear  and  the  ^idian.  Tb^  curr^t  is^here 
r^ntle.  The  lands  upon,  the  south  are  low,  and, 
w^^  I  passed  th^m,  were  overflowed ;  but,  on  the 
northern  side,  the  banks  are  dryland  elevated, 
with  much  meadow-land  at  their  feet.     The  grass^ 

'   f  ICumerous  SAd  thriving  colcmists  are  noyir  enjbying  that 
fertility — 1809. 


m 

m 


I761.J 


ADyENTUHES. 


# 


in  some  places^  w»s  high.  Sevei^,  iskMis  ai^  in 
this  part  of  the  river.  Among  the  iish,  of  which 
there  are  abundance,  are  cat-fish>  of  a  lai^  size. 


■i. ■<.»'-' 


At  fourtedi  leagues,  alxwe  the  Longue  Sault, 
we  reached  a  French  fort,  oc  tradinig-house,  sur* 
rounded  by  a:  stockade.  Attach^,  was  a  sin^I 
garden,  from  .winch  we  procui^ed  sq|ne  vegetaUes. 
The  house  had  no  inhabitant*  At  three  leagues 
further,  is  ^e  mouth  <^  tl|0  Hare^river^whicji  de- 
scends &Dm  the  north  ;  and  here  we  passed  ano- 
dier  trading-house.  At  a  few  leagues  stiU  ^ighe^r 
on  the  south-bank,  is  th^  mouth  pf  a  river  four 
hundred  yards  wide,  and  which  ^^  into  the  Ou- 
taouais  perpendicularly,  from  the  edge  of  arock^ 
forty  feet  high.  The  appearance  of  this  fs|ll,  has 
procured  for  it  the  name  of  the  rideau^  or,  cur^ 
tain  ;  and  hence  the  river  itself  iscall^  the  Ri- 
deau,  or  Rivihre  du  Jtideau,  The  fall  presented 
itself  to  my  view,  with  extraordinary  beauty  and 
magnificence^  and  decorated  with  a  variety  of 
colours. 


StilK  ascending  the  Outaouais,  at  three  leagues 
from  the  fall  of  the  Rideau,  is  that  of  La  Grande 
Chaudiere,^  a  phenomenon  of  a  different  asp^. 
Here^  on  thenorth  side  of  the  river,  is  a  deep  chasm, 
|ing  across  the  channel,  for  about  two  hun- 
yards,  from   twenty-five  to  thirty  feet  in 


*  La  Grande  Chaudih'e^  /.  e,  the  Great  Kettle. 


I-! 


'Hi 


I 


.4 


i 

m 

in,  1 

if 

■    1 

\  ,;       l[  Ij 

i  1  '■'  !■ 

M  fo'  '  '''' ' 

w 

1 1- 

rii! 


rJ  ! 


<■  n  I 


ao 


THAVfiLS  AMD 


[A.  O. 


de|)t!h,  lifld  without  appatrtnt  outlet.  In  ^lisre- 
ce|it^cle,  a  latrge  pottion  of  the  river  falls  perpendl-^ 
cularly,  With  a  loud  noise^  and  amid  a  cloud  of 
spray  and  vapour ;  but,  embellished,  from  time  to 
time$  with  die  bright  and  gorgeous  ninbomr.  The 
nver,  at  thia  place,  is  a  mile  in  width.  In  the 
laSny  seasob,  ^e  depth  of  the  fidl  is  lessened,  bjr 
rea6c^  Of  the  large  quantity  of  water,  which  if  re- 
ceived into  ihecha8in,<and  whieHfOr  want,a8it 
would  seem,  of  a  sufficient  drain,  in  part,  fills 
it  up.  At  such  timesv&n  eddy,  and  an  accumuhu 
tion  of  foam^  at  a  particular  part  c^the  chasm,  have 
led  me  to  suspect  the  existence  of  an  opening  be-^ 
neath,  through  which  the  water  finds  a  subterra- 
nean passage.  The  rock,  wluch  forms  die  bed  ct 
the  river,  appears  to  be  split,  in  an  oblique  direc- 
tion, from  one  shore  tothe  other  ;  and  the  chasm^ 
oh  the  n(»1h  side,  is  only  a  more  perfect  breach. 

The  fall  of  La  Grande  Chai^di^re,  is  more  diaQ 
twenty  leagues  above  the  Longue  Sault.  Its  name 
is  justified,  both  by  its  form,  and  by  the  vapour,  or 
steam,  which  ascends  from  it.  Above  it,  there  are 
several  islands,  <^  which  the  land  is  higher  at  the 
upper,  than  at  the  lower  extremities.  The  canying- 
plpce,  is  not  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in 
l^gdi,  over  a  smooth  rock,  and  so  near  Ih^  #11, 
that  the  men,  in  passing,  are  wetted  by  the 
From  this  earrying-piacey  to  anodier,  of 
more  length,  called  the  Portage  de  la  Chaudiere> 


If61.] 


ADV^irTURES. 


91 


and,  sometimes,  the  Second  Cbaudi^f€,^iB  only 
duee  miles.  ■'  -'     ^ 

in  this  part  of  the  voyage,  I  harrovdy  escaped 
a  fiital  accident;  A  thunder-gust  having  oU%;ed 
us  ^  make  the  shore,  ^  men  went  into  the  woods» 
ftr  shelter,  while  I  remained  in  n^  canoe,  under  a 
coreringofbadE.  The  canoe  had  been  intended  to 
be  sufficiently  dmwn  aground  $  but  to  my  conster* 
nation,  it  was  not  long  before,  wiule  thus  left  akme^ 
I  perceived  it  to  be  adrift,  and  going,  widi  the 
current,  toward  La  Grande  Chaudi^re.  Hap- 
pily, I  made  a  timely  discovery  of  my  situation; 
and,  getting  out,  in  shallow  water,  was  enabled,  by 
the  assistance  of  the  men,  who  soon  heard  my  call, 
to  save  my  property,  along  mth  my  life. 

At  twelve  miles,  from  the  secoi^d  P<Htage  de  la 
Chaudiere,  there  is  a  third  Chaudiere,  but  also 
called  the  Portage  des  Chenes.  The  name  of  tiiis 
carrying.place  is  ieiived  from  the  oak-trees,  with 
which  it  abounds.  It  is  half  a  mil^  in  length,  level, 
and  of  anagreeable  aspect. 

The  bed  of  the  nvcr  is  heart  very  broad,  ftjr  a 
space  of  twelve  leagues,  or  thirty-six  miles ;  and 
in  this  part  of  its  course,  it  is  called  Lake  des 
ChaMdieres,  a  name  derived  &om  the  ^Is 
below.  The  current,  in  this  place,  is  scarcely 
perceptible.    The  lands,  on  either  side,  are  high, 


22 


TRAVELS  AND 


CA.D. 


\::X'' 


'■\'i 


jt'i, 


■!!'|1 


I 


-4v 


m 


and  the*  soil  is  Mod^  At  the  head  df  Lake  ^des 
Chaudieres,  is  the  Portage  des  Chats.  The  car- 
rying.place  is  a  high  uneven  rock,  of  difficult 
access.  The  ridge  of  rock  crosses  the  stream, 
an<t  Occasions  ^ot  only  one,  buf^  numerous  falls, 
separated  from  each  other  by  islands,  and  affording 
a  scene,  of  very  pleasing  appearance.  At  the  dis- 
tance of  a  mile,  seven  openings  present  themselves 
to  the  dye,  along  a  line  of  two  miles,  which^  at  this 
point,  isthe  breadth  of  the  river.  At  each  opening, 
is  a  &11  of  w^ter,  of  about  thirty  feet  in  height,  and 
which,  from  the  whiteness  of  its  foam,  might  be 
mistaken  for  a  snow-bank.  Above,  foi>  six  imil^s, 
iitere  are  many  islands,  between  which,  the  Cur^- 
rent  is  strong*  To  overcome  the  difficulties  of 
this  part  of  the  navigation,  the  canoes  first  cwrry 
one  half  of  their  loading,  and,  at  a  second  trip, 
.  Ibe  remainder. 

« 

Above  the  isdands,  the  river  is  six  miles  in 
width,  and  is  called  Lake  des  Ghats.  The  lake, 
^so  called,  is  thirty  miles  long. .  The  lands  about 
the  lake,  are  like  those  of  Lake  des  Chaudieres ; 
but,  higher  up,  they  are  both  high  and  rocky,  and 
covered  with  no  other  wood  than  spruce  and 
stunted  pine. 


While  padding  against  the  gentle  current  of 
Lake  des  Chats,  we  met  several  canoes  of  Indi"i?*i, 
returning,  from  their  winter's  hunt,  to  their  village, 


m 


\J6U} 


ADVENTURES. 


23 


at'  the  lake  Des  Deux  Mohtagnes^  I  purchased 
some  of  their  maple-sugar,  and  beavar-skins,  in  ex>^ 
change  for  provisions.  They  wished  for  rum, 
which  I  declined  to  sell  them  ;  but  they  behaved 
civilly,  and  we  parted^  as  we  had  met,  in  a  friendly 
manner.  Before  they  left  us,  they  inquired;  of  my 
mesk,  whether  or  not  I  was  an  Englishman,  and, 
being  told  that  I  was,  they  observed,  that  the  £ik 
glbh  were  mad,  in  their  pursuit  of  beaver,  ainc^ 
they  could  thus  expose  their  lives  for  it  j  "for," 
added  th6y,  "  the  Upper  Indians  will  certainly  kiE 
him,"  meaning  myself.  These  Indiatis^  Md  l^^,- 
their  village  before  the  surrender  of  MontF^fd,  and^rr^ 
I  was  the  first  EngUshn^ui  they  had  seen^ 


•  ■* 


In  conviersation  with  my  men,  t  learned  that  the 
Algpnquji^,  of  the  lake  Des  Deux  Montagues, 
of  which ,  description  were  the  party  that  I  fiad 
now  met,  claim  all  the  lands  on  the  Outaomik^as 
far  as  Lake  Nipisingue ;  and  that  ^  thes^  kttids  are 
subdivided,  between  their  several  families,  upon 
whom  they  have  devolyed  by  iidieritance.  I  was 
also  informed,  that  they  are  exceedin^y  strict, 
as  to  the  rights  of  property,  in  ||hs  regard,  ac- 
counting an  mvasion  of  them  an  offence,  sufficiently 
great  to  warrant  the  death  of  the  invader. 


I  ^  We  now  reach©!  th^  chani^els  of  the  Grand  Calu* 
met,  which  lie  amid!  numerous  islands,  and  are  about 
twenty  miles  in  length.     In  this  distance,  tWit  arc 


':\ 


>l    I 


I 

m. 


I'll 


94 


TRAVELS  AND 


fA.D. 


fourcieurrying-placesy*  besides  tliree  or  fbur  d!f- 
charges^i  or  discharges^  yrbkh  are  pbces  Where 
the  merchandize  only  is  carried,  and  are  therefiare 
distinguishable  from  jboffti^Cir,  or  carrytng-plaocs, 
where  the  canoe  itself  is  taken  out  of  the  water,  and 
transported  on  men's  Moulders*  The  Jour  cany- 
ing*plaoe%included  in  the  channels,  are  short;  widi 
the  exception  of  one,  called  the  Portage  de  la  Mon- 
tagne,  at  which,  besides  its  length,  there  is  an  ac- 
divity  of  a  hundred  &et. 

On  the  10th  of  July,  we  had  reached  the  Portage 
du  GrandCalumet,  which  is  at  the  head  of  the  chan- 
nels of  the  same  name,  and  whidi  name  is  derived 
from  the  pibrre  a  calumet,  or  pipe-stone,|  which 
here  interrupts  the  river,  occasiorang  a  &11  of  water. 
Hiis  canying*fkce  is  long  and  arduous,  consist- 
ing It  a  high  steep  Ml,  orer  whicdi  the  canoe  can- 
not Jbe  carried  iy  fewer  than  twelve  men.  The 
method  of  canymg  Ifhe  packages,  ^ttpieces^  as  they 
are  caMed,  is  the  same  with  that  of  the  In^km 
women,  and  iduch,  indeed,  is  »ot  peculiar,  even  to 
them.  One  piece  rests  and  hangs  uponlhe  shoul- 
ders, being  suspended  in  a  fillet/or  ibrehead-band ; 
and  upon  this  is  laid  a  second,  which  usuaMy  fells  | 

*  portage  Dufort,  See.         fD^charge  des  Sables,  &c. 
\  The  fiierre  a  calumet  is  a  compact  time-atone,  yielding  I 
easily  to  the  knifef  and  therefore  emf>loyed  for  the  bowls  of] 
ttjbaccD-pipesjboth  by  the  Indians  and  Canadians. 


W61J] 


AUVBlfTUHEa 


.25 


htb  die  hollow  of  te  neek,  and  afiaists  the  iMsad^  In 

its  support  ctf  the  burlfini* 

■i 

The  ascent  of  this  cfttT^big>plaee  it  not  riart 
Mguini;,  than  thtltoeent  is  ^mtfjcn/as;  and^  in 
^  performini^  it,  acmdents  too  ofleti  oceur,  pitMkicini^ 
strains,  fuptures,  ami  ii^uries  for  life*^ 

The  oonying^plaGe,  and  the  repairs  <£  oinr  oa^ 
noes,  which  cost  us  aday,dmuHidayiat^e  IMu^, 
It  is  usual  ferthe  canoesto  kAvedieOfiiidCahinpil 
in  good  repair ;  tihe  fwyfttdSr,  or  liUiiMnrtocdpypi^^ 
of  th^  diSmiel  (fitmi  yi/hmh  the  canoes  fiuMbi  ike 
c^ief  injurf }  bein^  wmt  pass^  ^^be^^cwrent  be- 
come giende,  and^  carrying^phKses  less  firecpient. 
The  lands,  aboi^  the  cairyiBg^piaoes,  and  neaf^ 
the  water;  are  l6w;  and,  in  the  spring,  cntkrdy 
inundated. 


On  die  mora&tigi^the  ^Mi|  we  rei^ied  #  tra- 
dhigfort,  or  house,  sufi«iBided  bf  a  aiocicaite, 
which  had  been  bu^  by  the  Fwodh,  and  at  wfaldi 
the  quantity  of  peltries  received  wlus  once  not  in* 
connderabk.  For  twenty  miles  below  ^k  house, 
the  borders  of  the  iiv«r  are  peculiarly  wett  adiqfiied 
to  cultivation.    From  some  Ind&ms,  who  wel^  en- 

*  A  charitable  fund  is  now  established  in  Montml,  lor  the' 
relief  of  disabled  and  decay^  voyageura» 

4 


m 


'srfX 


'^, 


[A.  b. 


camped  near  the  hobse,  I  purchased  fish,  dried  ahd 


';!'    I 


At  the  rapids,  called  Des  Allumettes,  ait  two 
short  carrying-plabes,  above  in^ich  is  the  twihre 
Cretuef*  twenty^-six  miles  ift  lengdi,  whti«  the 
water  flows,  wi^a  gtMc  cumiit,  at  the  fdnt  of*  a 
high,  mountainous,  barren  and  rocky  Country,  on 
dK  kiorth,  and  has  a  low  and  saMy  s&il  on  the 
>8fmth.  On  this  southern  side,  is  a  remarkable 
liHint  of  sand,  stretching  far  into  the  streani,  and  on 
Wluch  it  is-tsu^tomai}^  to  baptize  novices.  Above 
lie ,  w^  Creuse,  are  the  two  carryhig-places,  of 
th0.  length  of<haIf  a  mile  each,  called  the  Pmages 
des  Deux  Joachins ;  and,  at  fifteen  miles  Ikulher, 
at  die  mouth  of  the  rivea?  Du  Moine,  is  anodier  fort, 
ortrading.house,  where  I  found  a  small  encamp, 
ment  ei  Indians,  called  Maskegons,  and  with  whom 
1- bartered  several  articles,  for  f^^u^.  Theyanx- 
ioucfy  inquired,  whether  or  not  ttie  English  were 
in  possesion  of  the  country  below,  and  wh<ether  or 
not^  tf  they  were,  they  wouM  dlow  traders  to  come 
to^tiVEt  trading-house ;  declaring^  that  their  fiunilies 
nlust  starve,  unless  they  should  be  able  to  procure 
ammunitiQn  and  other  necessaries.  I  answered 
both  these  questiotis  in  the  affirmative,  at  which 
they  expressed  much  satisfaction. 


*  Called,  by  the  English,  Dee/i-rwer, 


\  k 


1761.] 


ADVEKTVtlES. 


Above  the  Moine,  are  several  strong  and  dan^^ 
gerous  n^ids,  reaching  to  the  Portage  du  Boche* 
Ci^itaine,  a  carrying-place  of  three  quarters  of  a 
mile  in  length,  mountainous,  rocky,  and  wooded 
only  with  stunted  pine-trees  and  spruce.  Above 
this,  is  the  Portage  des  Deux  Rivieres^  so  called, 
fixnn  the  two  small  rivers  by  which  it  is  intersectedr 
and,  higher  still,  are  many  rapids  and  shoals,  ca|led, 
by  the  In<^ans,  i?ia/<iu>o.^  Here,  the  riyer.  call- 
ed, by  thc  French,  Petite  Rivi^re^  ^d^  hy  ine  In- 
diai:^,  Matawa  Sipi»  falls  i^to  the  Outaouais.  We 
now  left  the  latter  of  these  rivers,  and  proceeded  to 
ascend  the  Matawa. 


*Mataouan  (Matawan),  Charlevoix  ;   MaUwoen>««Mbr- 
kcnzie^i  Voyitgct, 


f. 


h. 


',  .''-'J 


■I*! 


'•7 


!  ',.;)■ 


CHAPTER  III. 


; ; ' 


t'  ■ 


/Qyag9  from  Montrial  to  MiehiHmackinae,  conti- 
mied,      Mwer  Matawa,      Lake   Mpiringue, 
Ikighi  qf  land.    MfnHngue9^  Mkm  so  caU- 
diy'^their  tmtion   mid  kmguage.     AnimaU  qf 
the  country.      Mouth  of  the  take.      Portage 
.  de  ta  Chaudiire  Franfaise.    Traces  qfthe  ancient 
action  (fvfatery  at  high  levels.    River  des  Ftan- 
^ais.    Embark  on  Lake  Huron,    Description  qf 
its  northern  shores.    Isle  dela  Cloche.    Indian 
FiUage^  Missisakies.  Indians  persuaded  that  the 
Author  will  be  killed,  at  MtchUimackinac,  and 
therefore  demand  a  share  of  the  pillage.    Author 
disguises  himselfj  as  a  Canadian—in  what  that 
disguise  consists^^meets  frequent  canoes,  filled 
withlndiansyondis  not  recognized  to  bean  English- 
man.   Eiver  Missisaki.    Islands  of  ManttouaKn. 
Jndians  cultivate  maize.  River  O'tossalon.  Island 
qfMichUimackinac.    Indian  Village. 

OUR  course,  in  ascending  the  Outaouais,  had 
been  west-north-west;  but,  on  entering  the  Matawa, 
our  faces  were  turned  to  the  south-west.  This 
latter  river  is  computed  to  be  fourteen  leagues 


TRAVELS^  fcc. 


29 


in  length.  In  the  widest  parts,  it  is  t  hundred 
yards  broad*  and  in  others  not  more  than  fifty.  In 
ascending  it,  there  are  fourteen  carrying.pbioes  and 
discharges,  of  which  some  are  extremely  diflkuh. 
Its  banks  are  almost  two  continuous  rocks,  with 
scarcely  earth  enough  for  the  burial  of  a  dead  body. 
I  saw  Indian  graves,  if  graves  they  might  be  caDed, 
where  the  corpse  was  hud  upon  the  bare  rock,  and 
covered  with  stones.  In  the  side  of  a  hiO,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river,  there  is  a  curious  cave,  con- 
ceming  which  marvellous  tales  are  rekited,  by  the 
voyageurs.  Mosquitoes,  and  a  minute  species  of 
black  fiy,  abound  on  this  river,  the  latter  of  whichare 
still  more  troublesome  than  the  former.  To  ob- 
tain a  respite  from  their  vexations,  we  were  obliged, 
at  the  carrying-places,  to  make  fires,  and  stand  in 
the  smoke. 


On  the  26th  of  August,  we  reached  the  Porta- 
ges i  la  Vase,  three  in  number,  and  each  two  miles 
in  length.  Their  name  describes  the  boggy  j^und 
of  which  they^  consist*  In  passing  one  of  them,  we 
sawmany beaver^housesand  dams;  and  bybre*..  ving 
one  of  the  dams,  we  let  ofi"  ^vater  enough  to  float 
our  canoes  down  a  small  stream,  which  would  not 
otherwise  have  been  navigable.  These  carr^ing- 
places,  and  the  interm  ^  iate  navigation,  brought  us, 
at  length,  to  the  head  of  a  small  river,  which  fiills 
into  Lake  Nipisingue.  We  had  now  passed  Ac 
country,  of  which  the  streams  fall  north-eastward. 


''li' 


ki  '  '"a  ■■:■ 

m 


Plik'h 


I.K 


':!    ';!i 


30  TRAVELS  AND  (.A.  D» 

into  the  Outaouais,  and  entered  that  from  which 
they  flow,  in  a  contrary  direction,  toward  Lake  Hu- 
ron. On  one  side  of  the  height  ofkndy  which  is 
the  reciprocal  boundary  of  these  regions,  we  had 
kit  Lake  aux  Tourtres  and  the  river  Matawa ;  and 
before  us,  on  the  other,  was  Lake  Nipisinguel  The 
banks  of  the  little  river,  by  which  we  descended 
into  the  lake,  and  more  especially  as  we  approadi- 
ed  the  lake,  were  of  an  exceedingly  delightful  ap- 
pearance, covered  with  high  grass,  and  aiictfdmg  an 
extendve  prospect.  Both  the  lake  and  river 
abound  in  black  bass,  ^sturgeon,  pike  and  other 
fish.  Among  the  pike,  is  to  be  included  the  spe- 
cies, called,  by  the  Indians,  masquinong^.  In  two 
hours,  with  the  assistance  of  an  Indian,  we  took  as 
much  fish  as  all  the  party  could  eat. 

Lake  Nipisingue  is  distant  two  hundred  leagues 
from  Montreal.  Its  circumference  is  said  to  mea< 
sure  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  and  its  depth  is 
sufficient  for  vessels  of  any  burden.  On  our 
voyage,  along  its  eastern  banks,  we  met  some 
canoes  of  Indians,  who  said  they  lived  on  the 
north-western  side.  My  men  informed  me  that 
they  were  Nipisingues,  a  name  which  they  derive 
from  the  lake.  Their  language  is  a  dialect  of  the 
Algonquin;  and,  by  nation,  they  are  a  mixture  of 
Chipeways  and  Maskegons.  They  had  a  large 
quantity  of  furs,  part  of  which  I  purchased.  The 
animals,  which  the  country  affords  them,  are  the 


yit'^-. 


irei.] 


ABVENTURES. 


31 


beaver,  marten,  bear  and  o'^,  a'/»c,  or,  earUMJu^c^ 
species  ofdeer,  by  some  called  the  mn-</<ffr.  They 
wished  for  rum,  but  I  avoided  selling  or  giving 
them  any. 

Leaving  the  Indiims,  we  proceeded  to  the  mouth 
of  the  kke,  at  which  is  the  carrying-place  of  La 
Chaudiere  Fran^aise,*  a  name,  part  of  which  it  has 
obtained  from  the  holes,  in  the  rock  over  whiiBh  we 
passed ;  and  which  holes,  being  of  the  kind  wluch  b 
known  to  be  formed  by  water,  with  the  asustance 
of  pebbles,  demonstrate  that  it  has  not  always  been 
dry,  as  at  present  it  is ;  but  the  phenomenon  is  not 
peculiar  to  this  spot,  the  same  being  observable,  at 
almost  every  carrying-place  on  the  Outaouais.  At 
the  height  of  a  hundred  feet  above  the  river,  I  com* 
monly  found  pebbles,  worn  into  a  round  form,  like 
those  upon  the  beach  below.  Everywhere,  the 
water  appears  to  have  subsided  from  its  ancient 
levels  ;  and  imagination  may  anticipate  an  era,  at 
which  even  the  banks  of  Newfoundland  will  be  left 
Imre. 

The  southern  shores  of  LakeNipisingue  are  rocky, 
and  only  thinly  covered  with  pine-trees  and  spruce, 
bffith,  as  in  several  instances  already  mentioned,  of 
a  small  stature.  The  canying.place  of  La  Chau- 
diere Fran^aise  is  at  the  head  of  the  river  Oes 


^  Orj  la  Cfumdiere  d€9  Fratifaii. 


s$ 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.©, 


il'i'i  ,! 


mil* 


Fr^ngais,  and  where  the  water  first  descends  from 
the  level  of  Lake  Nipisingue  toward  that  of  hake 
Huron.  This  it  does  not  reach  tiU  it  has  passed 
dowii  many  rq>ids(,  full  of  danger  to  the  cimoes 
and  the  men,  after  which  it  enters  Liake  Huron  by  se- 
veral arms,  flowing  through  each,  as  thiEough  a  mill- 
race.  The  river  Des  Fran^ais  is  twenty  leagues  in 
Ieiigth,andhas,maiiy  islands  in  its  channel.  Its  banks 
areun^Mndyof  rock.  Among  ^he  carry  ingf  places,  tit 
which  we  auccesuvely  arrived,  are  the  Portage  des 
Pins,  or,  du  Pin ;  de  la  Gnmde  Faucille  ;*  de  la 
Pet^  FaiK^ille;  and  du  Saolt  du  Recolett  Near  the 
mouth  of  the  river,  a  meadow,  called  La  Prairie 
des  Fran^sus,  varies,  for  a  short  space,  the  rocky 
sur&ce,  which  so  gemaially  prevails ;  and,  oi^  |his 
spot,  we  encan^ed,  and  repaired  our  canoes.  Hie 
carryiBg-^places  were  now  all  passed,  and  what  re- 
muned  was,  to  cross  ^  billows  of  Lake  Huron, 
which  lay  stretched  aat>ss  our  horizon,  like  an 
ocean. 


■M 


m !  ' 


m 


On  the  thirty-first  day  of  August,  we  entered  the 
lake,  the  waves  running  high,  from  the  south,  and 
breaking  over  numerous  rocks.  At  first,  I  thought 
the  prospect  alarming ;  but  the  canoes  rode  on  the 


m 


*  jFauciUe,Tr,  a  sickle, 
t  So  called,  perhaps,  on  account  of  the  resemblance  of  dus 
Sault  to  that  of  the  Sault  duRecOlet,  between  the  islands  of 
Mcmtreal  and  Jesus,  and  which  h%^  its  name  from  the  death  of 
a  Recolet)  or  Franciscan  friar,  who  was  there  drowned. 


Mil 


1761.] 


ADVENTURES. 


•33 


water  tvith  the  ease  of  a  sea-bird,  and  my  apprehen- 
sions ceased.  We  passed  Point  de  Grondines,  so 
called,  from  the  perpetual  noise  of  the  wnter  among 
the  rocks.  Many  of  these  rocks  are  sunken,  ami 
not  without  danger,  when  the  wind,  as  at  this  time 
it  was,  is  from  the  south. 

We  coasted  along  many  small  islands,  or  rather 
rocks,  of  more  or  less  extent,  either  wholly  bare,  or 
very  scantily  covered  with  scrub  pine-trees.  All 
the  land  to  the  northward  is  of  the  samfe  description, 
as  high  sis  Clia'ba'bou'an'ing',  where  verdure  re- 
appears. 

Oh  the  following  day,  we  reached  an  island,  call- 
ed La  Gloche,  because  there  is  here  a  rock,  stand- 
ing on  a  plain,  which,  being  struck,  rings  like  a 
bell. 


I  found  the  island  inhabited  by  a  large  village  of 
Indians,  whose  behaviour  was  at  first  full  of  civi- 
lity and  kindness.  I  bartered  away  some  small  ar- 
ticles among  them,  in  exchange  for  fish  and  dried 
meat ;  and  we  remained  upon  friendly  terms,  till, 
discovering  that  I  was  an  Englishman,  they  told 
my  men,  that  the  Indians,  at  Michilimackinac, 
would  not  fail  to4ill  me,  and  that,  therefore,  they 
had  a  right  to  a  share  of  the  pillage.  Upon  this 
principle,  as  they  said,  they  demanded  a  keg  of 

5 


-  »i 


[ 


i; 


...   '  .it'" 

lllii  <':r  ■ 

If* 


i;!i:' 


I  inff 


l.ii    :. 


i 


''t 


^if 


lif 


l.'fl't: 


'.HHlii 


!':p 


lliii' 


lli 


?igi/ii.;.  i 


l{ 


i::\- 


m 

I'-i! 


i:t' 


m 


U 


TRAVELS  AND 


CA.  p. 


rum,  adding,  that  if  not  giveii  thiem,  they  wqu14 
proceed  to  take  it.  I  judged  it  prudent  to  comply  v 
on  condition,  however)  that  I  should  experience, 
at  this  place,  no  further  molestation. 

The  condition  was  not  unfaithfully  observed ; 
but  the  repeated  warnings  which  I  had  now  re- 
ceived, of  sure  destruction  at  Michilimackiiiac^ 
couki  not  but  oppress  my  mind.  I  could  not  even 
yield  myself,  without  danger,  to  the  course  sug- 
gested by  my  fears ;  for  my  provisions  were  nearly 
exhausted,  and  to  return,  w^  therefore,  almost 
impracticable. 

V 

The  hostility  of  the  Indians  ivas  exclusively 
against  the  English.  Between  them,  and  my  Ca- 
nadian attendants,  there  appeared  the  most  cordial 
good  will.  This  circumstance  suggested  one 
means  of  escape,  of  which,  by  the  advice  of  my 
friend,  Campion,  I  resolved  to  attempt  availing  my- 
self»  and  which  was,  that  of  putting  on  the  dress^ 
usually  worn  by  such  of  the  Canadians  as  pursue 
the  trade  into  which  I  had  entered,  and  assimilating 
myself,  as  much  as  I  wa^  able,  to  their  appeanmce 
and  manners.  To  this  end,  I  laid  aside  my  f^nglish 
clotlies,  and  covered  myself  only  with  a  cloth,  pa^s- 
cxl  about  the  middle ;  a  shirt,  hanging  loose;  a  mol- 
ton,  or  blanket  coat;  and  a  large,  red,  milled 
worsted  cap./'  The  next  thing  was  to  smear  my 
face  and  hands,  with  dirt  and  grease ;  and,  this 
done,  I  took  the  place  of  one  of  my  men,  and,  when 


ir6i.3 


AbVENTURfeS. 


%$ 


Indians  approached,  used  the  paddle,  with  as  much 
skill  as  I  possessed.  1  had  the  satisfaction  to  find, 
that  my  disguise  enabled  me  to  pass  several-canoes, 
without  attracting  the  smallest  notice. 

In  this  manner,  I  pursued  my  v^grage  to  the 
mouth,  or  rather  mouths,  of  the  Miidsaki,  a  river 
which  descends  from  the  north,^d  of  which  the 
name  imports,^  that  it  has  sevend  t^ifths,  or  outiets. 
From  this  river,  all  the  Indiari^  inhabiting  the 
north  side  of  Lake  Huron,  are  called  Missisakies. 
iTiere  is  here  a  plentiful  sturgeon-fishery,  by 
which  those,  that  resort  to  it,  are  fed  during  the 
summer  months.  On  our  voyage,  we  met  several 
Missisakies,  of  whom  we  bought  fish,  and  from 
whose  stock  we  might  easily  have  filled  all  our 
canoes. 


From  the  Missisaki,  which  is  on  the  north  ^horc 
of  Lake  Huron,  to  Michilimackinac,  which  is  on 
^e  south,  is  reckoned  thirty  leagues.  The  Wke, 
which  here  approaches  Lake  Superior,  is  now 
contracted  in  its  breadth,  as  well  as  filled  with 
islands.  From  the  mouth' of  the  river  Des  Fraiii. 
9ais,  to  the  Missisaki,  is  reckoned  fifty  leagues, 
with  many  islands  along  the  route.  The  lands 
everywhere,  fit}m  the  island  x>f  La  Cloche,  are 
poor ;  with  the  exception  of  thosQ  of  the  isknd  of 


3d 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


T  pill' 


1:;!  .l^ 


"llltil':'' 


M' 


iili!|i"it;, 
r'li" :  M' 


\i'  rl'ii 


Manitoiialin,  a  hundred  miles  in  length,*  where 
they  are  generally  good.  On  all  the  islands,  the 
Indians  cultivate  small  quantities  of  maize. 

From  the  Missisaki,  we  proceeded  to  the  O'tos- 
saIon,t  and  thence  across  the  lake,  making  one 
island  after  another,  at  intervals  of  from  two  to 
three  leagues.  The  lake,  as  far  as  it  could  be  seen, 
tended  to  the  westward,  and  became  less  and  less 
broad.  # 

The  first  land,  which  we  made,  on  the  south 
shore,  was  that  called  Point  du  Detour,  after 
which,  we  passed  the  island  called  Isle  aux 
Outardes,  and  then,  leaving  on  the  rig^t,  the 
deep  bay  of  Boutchitaouy  came  to  the  island  of 
Michilimackinac,  distant,  from  Isle  aux  Outardes, 

.  *  .The  Isle  Manitijualin  was  ibrmerly  so  described.  It  is 
now  known,  that  there  is  no  island  in  Lake  Huron,  of  a  hun- 
dred miles  in  length,  and  that  the  ManitouaUn  are  a  chain 
of  islands.  The  French  writers  on  Caninda,  speak  of  the 
Isle  Manitoualin,  as  inhabited,  in  their  time,  by  the  Amir 
koves  (Amicways,  Amicawac),  whom  they  called  a  family 
(and  sometimes  a  nation),  deriving  its  origin  from  the  Great 
Beaver,  a  personage  of  mythological  importance.  The  name 
Mcmiioualiny  implies  the  residence  of  Afanitoe»f  or  genii, 
a  distinction  vei*y  commonly  attributed  to  the  islands,  and 
sometimes  to  the  shores,  of  Lakes  Huron^and  Superior,  and 
of  which,  further  examples  will  present  themselves,,  iiii  the 
course  of  these  pages, 

t  Also  written,  Teasaloriy  Tkeaaalouy  and  dea  Tessalons. 


I'M 


)T.«».3 


ADVENTURES. 


37 


tlu'ce  leagues.  On  our  way,  a  sudden  squall  re- 
duced us  to  the  point  of  throwing  over  the  cargoes 
of  our  canoes,  to  save  the  latter  from  filling ;  but 
the  wind  subsided,  and  we  reached  the  island  in 
safety. 

The  land,  in  the  centre  of  this  island,  is  high, 
and  its  form  somewhat  resembles  that  of  a  turde's 
back.  Mackinac,  or  Mickinac,  signifies  a  turtle^ 
and  miehi  (mishi)^  or  missi,  signifies  great,  as  it 
does,  also,  several,  or  many.  The  common  inter- 
pretation, o{  the  word,  Michilimackinacy  is  the  Great 
Turtle.  It  is  from  this  island,  that  the  fort,  com- 
monly known  by  the  name  of  Michilimackhiac, 
has  obtained  its  appellation. 

On  the  island,  as  I  had  been  previously  tauglit 
to  expect,  there  was  a  village  of  Chipeways,  said  to 
contain  a  hundred  warriors.  Here,  I  was  fearful  of 
discovery,  and  consequent  ill-treatment ;  but  after 
inquiring  the  news,  and,  particularly,  whether  or 
not  any  Englishman  was  coming  to  Michilimacki- 
nac,  they  suffered  us  to  pass,  uninjured.  One 
man,  indeed,  looked  at  me,  laughed,  and  pointed 
me  out  to  another.  This  was  enough  to  give  me 
some  uneasiness ;  but,  whatever  was  the  singularity 
)ie  perceived  in  me,  both  he  and  his  friend  retire^ 
without  suspecting  me  to  be  an  Englishman.. 


len  Teasalons. 


z'->>i' ' 


1:  ii!':;!!i!' 


CHAPTER  IV. 


Fort  Mtchiiimacfnnac.  Chipewaysy  of  the  Island 
of  MtchiRmackinaC'— 'their  appearance — demean- 
our-—and  treatment  qf  the  Author.  Otawas,  of 
the  village  of  L^Arbre  Croche^^their  condition — 
their  treatment  of  the  Author  and  others.  Arri- 
val of  a  British  garrison,  f 

LEAVING,  as  speedily  as  possible,  the  island 
of  Michilimackinac,  I  crossed  the  strait,  and  land- 
ed at  the  fort,  of  the  same  name. ,  The  distance, 
from  the  island,  is  about  two  leagues.  I  landed,  at 
four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 


v.v\\\ 


Here,  I  put  the  entire  charge  of  my  effects  into 
the  hands  of  my  assistant.  Campion,^  between  whom 
and  myself  it  had  been  previously  agreed,  that  he 
should  pass  for  the  proprietor  ;  and  my  men  Were 
instructed  to  conceal  the  fact,  that  I  was  an  En- 
glishman. 

Campion,  soon  found  a  house,  to  which  I  reti- 
red, and  where  I  hoped  to  remain  in  privacy  ;  but 
the  men  soon  betrayed  my  secret,  and  I  was  visited 
by  the  inhabitants,  with  great  show  of  xiivility. 


\   THAVELS,  ^c. 


39 


)1e,  the  island 


They  assured  me,  that  I  could  not  stay  at  Michili- 
mackinac  without  the  most  imminent  risk ;  and 
strongly  recommended*  that  I  should  lose  no  time, 
in  making  my  escape,  to  Detroit. 

Though  language,  like  this,  could  not  but  in- 
crease my  uneasiness,  it  did  not  shake  my  determi- 
nation, to  remain  with  my  property,  and  encounter 
the  evils  with  which  I  vrm  threatened ;  and  my 
spirits  were  in  spme  measure  sustained  by  the  sen- 
timents of  Campion,  in  this  regard;  fqr  he  declared 
his  belief,  that  the  Canadian  inhabitants  of  the  fort 
were  more  hostile  than  the  Indians,  as  being  jealous 
of  £ngUsh  traders,  who,  like  myself,  were  penetra- 
ting into  the  country. 

Fort  Michilimackinac  was  built  by  order  of 
the  governor-general  of  Canada,  and  garrisoned 
with  a  small  number  of  niilitia,  who,  having  fami- 
liel^  soon  became  less  soldiers  than  settlers.  Most 
of  those,  whom  I  found  in  the  fort,  had  originally 
served  in  the  French  army. 

The  fort  stands  on  the  south  side  of  the  strait 
which  i$  between  L.ake  Huron  and  Lake  Michigan, 
It  has  an  area  of  two  acres,  and  is  ^closed  with 
pickets  of  ced^r-wQod;^  and  it  is  so  near  the  water's 
edge,  that,  when  the  wind  is  in  the  west,  the  waves 


•  Thuya  occidcntalis. 


40 


TRAVELS  ANb 


[A.  D, 


:  iiJ:  :  J 


'm 


!i. 


,lil|: 


'Uii! 


S. 


bre^k  against  the  stockade.  On  the  bastions,  arc 
two  sinall  pieces  of  brass  English  cannon,  taken 
some  years  since,  by  a  party  of  Canadians,  who 
went  on  a  phindering  expedition,  against  the  posts 
of  Hudson's  Bay,  which  they  reached  by  the  route 
of  the  river  Churchill. 

Within  the  stockade,  are  thirty  houses,  neat  in 
their  appearance,  and  tolerably  commodious  ;  and 
a  church,  in  which  mass  is  celebrated,  by  a  Jesuit 
missionary.  The  number  of  families  may  be  near- 
ly equal  to  that  of  the  houses  ;  and  their  subsist- 
ence  is  derived  from  the  Indian  traders,  who  as- 
semble here,  in  their  voyages  to  and  from  Montreal. 
Michilimackinac  is  the  place  of  deposit,  and  point 
of  departure,  between  the  upper  countries  and  the 
lower.  Here,  the  outfits  are  prepared  for  the  coun- 
tries  of  Lake  Michigan  and  the  Missisipi,  Lake 
Superior  and  the  north-west ;  and  here,  the  re- 
turns, in  furs,  are  collected,  and  embarked  tor 
Montr6al. 


I  was  not  released  from  the  visits  and  admoni- 
tions of  the  inhabitants  of  the  fort,  before  I  received 
the  equivocal  intelligence,  that  the  whole  band  of 
Chipeways,  from  the  island  of  Michilimackinac, 
was  arrived,  with  the  intention  of  paying  me  a  visit. 


There  was,  in  the  fort,  one  Farley,  an  interpreter, 
lately  in  the  employ  of  the  French  commandant. 


1761] 


ADVENTURES. 


41 


He  had  married  a  Chipeway  womaiii  mA  was 
imA  to  posiess  great  influence  over  the  nation 
to  which  his  wife  belonged.  Doubtful,  as  to  the 
kind  of  visit  which  I  was  about  to  receive,  I  sent 
for  ^s  interpreter,  and  requested,  first,  that  he 
would  have  the  kindness  to  be  present  at  the  inter* 
view,  and,  secondly,  that  he  would  inform  me  of 
^  intentions  of  the  band*  M.  Farley  agreed  to 
be  present;  and, as  to  the  object  of  the^visit,  replied, 
that  it  was  consistent  with  uniform  custom,  that  a 
stranger,  on  his  arrival,  should  be  waited  upon,  and 
welcomed,  by  the  chiefs  of  the  nation,  who,  on 
their  part,  always  gave  a  small  present,  and  always 
expected  a  large  one ;  but,  as  to  the  rest,  declared 
himself  unable  to  answer  for  die  particular  views  of 
die  Chipeways,  on  this  occasion,  I  being  an  £n- 
giislunan,  and  the  Indians  havkig  made  no  treaty 
with  the  EngHsh.  He  thought  that  there  might 
be  danger,  the  Indians  having  jvotested  that  they 
would  not  suffer  an  Ei^i^mian  to  remain  in  their 
part  of  die  coun^. — This  miormsitian  vrsa  fyr 
from  agreeable ;  but  there  was  no  resource,  ex- 
cept in  fortitude  and  patience. 


m 


*w 


At  two  o'clock  m  the  afternoon,  the  Chipewi^ 
came  to  my  house,  about  sixty  in  number,  uad  head- 
ed by  Mina'va'va'na',  their  chief.  They  walked  in 
singk  file,  each  with  lus  tomidhawk  in  one  hand, 
and  scalping-knife  in  the  oAer.  Their  bodies 
were  naked,  from  the  waist  upward ;  except  in  a 

6 


'1  111. 


»l!'i' 


i'l'      ii 


m 


I '  1 


i.i'f 


f  1'  i 


■m 


m 


TlUiyELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


few  exampleci,  where  blankets  were  thrown  looaely 
over  the  shoulders.  Their  faces  were  painted  with 
charcoal,  worked  up  with  grease ;  their  bodies, 
vvith  white  clay,  in  patterns  of  various  fancies. 
Some  had  feathers  thrust  through  their  noses, 
and  their  heads  decorated  with  the  same.— It  is  un- 
n^essary  to  dwell  on  the  sensations  with  which  I 
,  beheld  the  approach  of  ^is  uncouth,  if  not  frightful 
ji^  assemblaire.  «         ^^mh.  iyyuiii4 


/' 


The  cliief  entered  first ;  and  the  rest  followed, 
without  noise.  On  receiving  a  sign  from  the 
former,  the  latter  seated  thei!nselves  on  the  .floor. 


•■•  T"' 


Minavavana  appeared  to  be  about  fifty  years 
of  age. .  He  was  six  feet  in  height,  and  had,  in  his 
countenance,  an  indescribable  mixture  of  good  and 
evil. — Looking  stedfastly  at  me,  where  Isat  in 
ceremony,  with  an  interpreter  on  either  hand,  and 
several  Canadians  behind  me,  he  entered  at  the 
same  time  into  conversation  with  Campion,  in- 
quiring how  long  it  was  since  I  left  M(Hitr6al, 
and  observing,  that  the  English,  as  it  would  seem, 
Ave^  brave  men,  and  not  afraid  of  death,  since  they 
dared  to  come,  as  I  had  done,  fearlessly  among 
their  enemies. 

The  Indians  now  gravely  smoked  their  pipes, 
while  I  inwardly  endured  the  tortures  of  suspense. — 
At  length,  the  pipes  being  finished,  as  well  as  a 


ir«i.] 


ADVENTURES. 


long  pause,  by  which  they  were  succeeded,  Mina- 
vavana,  taking  a  few  strings  of  wampum  in  his 
hand,  began  the  following  ^leech  :  ' 

<*  Englishman,  it  is  to  you  that  I  speak^  and  I 
^  demand  your  attention  ! 


**  Englishman,  you  know  that  the  French  king 
isouriather.  He  promised  to  be  sdch ;  and  we, 
in  return,  promised  to  be  his  children.— This 
promise  we  have  kept. 


u 
it 


**  Englishman,  it  is  you  that  have  made  war 
with  this  our  father.  You  are  his  enemy  ;  and 
how,  then,  could  you  have  theboMness  to  venture 
among  us,  his  children?— Yqu  know  that  his  ene« 


mies  are  ours. 


^ampion,  m- 


« 
it 
<( 
(( 


'*  Englishman,  we  are  informed,  that  our  father^ 
the  king  of  France,  is  old  and  infirm  ;  and  that 
beingfatigued,  with  making  war  uponyournation, 
he  is  fallenasleep.  Duringhis  sleep,  you  have  taken 
advantage  of  him,  and  possessed  yourselves  of  Ca- 
nada. But,  his  nap  is  almost  at  an  end.  I  think 
I  hear  him  already  stirring,  and  inquiring  for 
liis  children,  the  Indians ;— and,  when  he  does 
awake, what  mustbecomeof you?  Hewilldestro^ 
you  utterly! 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.©. 


4« 


nt'^l 


9H!i' 


i',    ■ 


ii!;i 


t( 
i( 
n 
(( 

(C 

ii 
(t 
(( 
(( 


Englishman,  rithough  you  have  conquered 
the  French,  you  have  not  yet  conquered  tis !  We 
are  not  your  slaves.  These  lakes,  these  woods  and 
mountains,  were  left  to  us  by  our  ancestors.  They 
are  our  inheritance;  and  we  will  part  \inth  them  to 
none.  Your  nation  supposes  that  wc,  like  Ac 
white  people,  cannot  live  without  bread — and 
pork'-^aiid  beef !  But,  you  ought  to  know,  that 
He,  the  Gieat  Spirit  and  Master  of  Life,  hasprovi^ 
ded  food  for  us,  in  these  spacious  lakes,  and  on 
these  woody  mountains. 


i'!'i 


'ifiiii. 


« 
(( 

<l 
iC 


ii 


^f  Englishman,  our  father,  the  king  ^France, 
employed  our  young  men  to  make  war  upon  your 
nation.  In  this  warfare,  many  of  them  h&ve  hc&i 
killed ;  and  it  is  our  custom  to  retaliate,  uatilsuch 
time  as  the  spirits  of  the  slain  are  satiBfied.  But, 
the  spirits  of  the  slain  are  to  be  satisfied  in  either  of 
two  ways  ;  the  first  is  by  the  spilling  of  ^  blood 
of  the  nation  by  which  they  fell ;  the  other,  by  co- 
vering the  bodies  ^fthedeod^  andthusaUayingthe 
resentment  of  their  relations.  This  is  done  by 
making  presents. 


i  1,^1 


*'  Englishman,  your  king  has  never  sent  us  any 
*  *  presents,  nor  entered  intoany  treaty  with  us,  where- 
<^  fore  he  and  we  are  still  at  war ;  and,  until  he  does 
'*  these  things,  we  must  consider  that  "we  have  no 
**  other  father,  nor  friend,  among  the  vHiitemen,  than 
"  the  king  of  France ;  but,  for  you,  we  have  taken 


irci,] 


ADVENTUlim 


ii 
u 
u 
u 
it 

M 
il 
U 

u 


into  consideration,  that  you  have  vctntured  your 
Itfe  amongf  us,  in  the  expectation  that  we  should 
not  molest  you.  You  do  not  come  armed,  with 
an  intention  to  make  war;  you  come  in  peace,  to 
trade  with  us,  and  supply  us  with  necessaries,  of 
whidiweareinmuchwant.  We  shall  regard  you, 
therefore,  asabrother;  andyou  may  sleep  tranquil- 
ly, without  fear  of  the  Chipeways. — As  a  token  of 
our  friendship,  we  present  you  with  tlus  pipe,  to 
smoke^" 


As  Mhiavavana  uttered  there  wordi»,  an  Indian 
presented  me  with  a  pipe,  which,  after  I  had  drawn 
the  smoke  three  tiroes,  was  carried  to  the<chief,> 
and  after  him  to  every  person  in  the  room.>  t  Hiis 
ceremony  ended,  the  chief  arose,  and  gave  me  his 
hand,  in  which  he  was  followed  by  all  the  rest. 


agaiA  seated,  Minavavanarequestadlhat 
his  young  men  might  be  allowed  to  taste  what  he 
called  my  Enghsh  mUir  (meaningnan)*.»oblerving, 
that  it  was  long  since  they  had  tasted  anjr,  and  that 
they  were  veiy  desirous  to  know,  whether  or  nql 
there  were  any  difierence  between  the  £ng]ish  milk 
and  the  Fuenolu 


nt5f« 


^y  adventure,  on  leaving  Fort  William.  Augus* 
tus,  had  klit  an  impression  an  my  muid,  which  made 
me  tremble  when  Indians  a^ed  for  rum ;  and  I 
would  therefore  willingly  have  excused  mysdf  in 
this  particular :  but,  being  informed  that  it  was 


I 


lull 


\i-''  ■:■■! 


lan 


II  .1 


46 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


customary  ta  comply  with  the  request,  and  withal 
satisfied  with  the  friendly  declarations  which  I  had 
feceived,  I  promised  to  give  them  a  small  cask,  at 
parting. 

After  this,  by  the  tad  c^niy  interpi^ter,  I  made  a 
reply  to  the  ^^ech  of  Minavavana,  declaring  that  it 
was  the  good  character,  which  I  had  hedrd  of  the 
Indians,  that  had  alone  emboldened  me  to  come 
among  them ;  that  their  late  fether,  the  king  of 
France,  had  surrendered  Canada  to  the  king  of  En- 
gland, whom  they  ought  now  to  regard  as  their 
father,  and  who  would  be  as  careful  of  them  as  die 
other  had  been  ;  that  I  had  come  to  furnish  them 
with  necessaries,  and  that  their  good  treatment  of 
me  would  be  an  encouragement  to  others.— l*hey 
appeu^d  satisfied  with  what  I  said,  repeating  eh  ! 
(an  expression  of  approbation)  after  hearing  each 
particular.  I  had  prepared  a  present,  which  I  now 
gave  them,  with  the  utmost  goodwill.  At  their 
departure,  I  distributed  a  small  quantity  of  rum. 

^^  Relieved,  as  I  now  imagined  mysnelf,  from  all 
occasion  of  anxiety,  as  to  the  treatment  which  I 
was  to  experience,  from  the  Indians,  I  ^assorted 
my  goods,  and  hired  Canadian  mterpreters  and 
clerks,  in  whose  care  I  was  to  send  them  into  Lake 
Michigan,  and  the  river  Samt-Pierre,  in  the  coun- 
try  of  the  Nadowessies;  into  Lake  Superior,  among 
the  Chipeways,  and  to  the  Grand  Portage,  for  the 


ADVENTURES. 


42 


iiorth-west.  ,  Ev^iy  thing  was  ready  for  their  de- 
parture, when  new  dangers  spnintg  upland  threat- 
ened to  overwhelm  me.  4 


At  the  entrance  of  Lake  Michigan,  and  at  about 
twenty  nules  to  the  west  ci  Fort  Michilimackinac, 
is  the  village  of  L'Arbre  Croche,  ii^bited  by  a 
band  of  Otawas,  boasting  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty  fighting  men.  L'Arbre  Croche  isdie  seat 
of  the  Jesuit  mission  of  Saint  Ignace  de  Michili- 
mackinac,  and  the  pe<^le  are  partly  baptisedy4ind 
[partly  not.  The  missionary  resides  oh  a  ferm^ 
[attached  to  the  mission,  and  situated  between  the 
[village  and  the  fort,  both  of  which  are  under  his 
care.  *  The  Otawas  of  L'Arbre  Croche,  who," 
[when  compared  with  the  Chlpeways,  aj^ar  to 
be  much  advanced  in  civilization,  grow  maize, 
for  the  market  of  Michilimackinac,  where  this 
[commodity  is  depended  upon,  for  provisionii^  the 
icanoes. 


The  new  dangers,  which  presented  themselves^ 
[came  from  this  viUage  erf  Otawas.  Every  diing, 
I  have  said,  was  in  readiness,  for  the  departure 
lof  my  goods,  when  accounts  arrived  of  its  ap- 
iproach;  and  shortly  after,  two  hundred  warriiy^ 
jentered  the  fort,  and  billeted  themselves  in  the  se- 
veral houses,  among  the  Canadian  inhabitants. 
|The  next  morning,  they  assembled  in  the  house 
irhich  was  built  for  the  commandant,  or  governor, 
id  ordered  the  attendance  of  myself,  and  of  two 


{;• 


48 


TRAVELS  AND 


other  merchants,  still  later  from  Montr6al,  iiamel^> 
Messrs.  Stanley  Goddard,  and  Ezekiel  Solomons. 


:  o:  ;■■■  i- 


mM. 


iH- 


)•    ,i 


il 


m' 


l|!| 


i'li:^; 


.  ..^ 


iiiin 


After  our  entering  the  council-room,  and 
taking  our  seats,  one  of  the  chiefs  commenced  an 
address :  **  Englishmen,*'  said  he,  *'  we,  the  Ota- 
^^  was,  were  some  time  since  informed  of  your  ar- 
f^  rival  in  this  country,  and  of  your  having  brought 
^*  with  you  the  goods  of  which  we  haye  need.  •  At 
"  this  news,  we  were  greatly  pleased,  believing,  that 
*Sdu-oug^  your  assistance,  our  wives  and  children 
^*  would  be  enabled  to  pass  another  winter  ;  but, 
,  **  what  was  our  surprise,  when,  a  few  days  ago,  we 
were  again  informed,  that  the  goods  which,  as  we 
had  expected,  were  intended  for  us  were,  on  the 
«Veve  of  departure,  for  distant  countries,  of  which 
'*  some  are  inhabited  by  our  enemies !  These  ac- 
*'  counts  being  spread,our  wives  and  children  came 
'^  to  us,  crying,  and  desiring  that  we  should  go  to 
^'  the  fort,  to  learn,  with  our  own  ears,  their  truth 
'^  or  falsehood.  We  accordingly  embarked,  almost 
*^aaked,  as  you  see ;  and  on  our  arrival  here,  we 
''  have  inquired  into  the  accounts,  and  found  them 
**'true.  We  see  your  canoes  ready  to  depart,  and 
*'find  your  men  engaged  for  the  Missistpi,  and 
"4j|^ier  distant  scions. 

"  Under  these  circumstances,  we  have  consider- 
*^  ed  the  al&ir ;  fuid  you  are  now  sent  for,  that  you 
'^  may  hear  our  determination,  which  is,  that  you 


«( 


<( 


« 


1761.] 


ADVENTURES. 


49 


ti 


that  you  ^mQI  give  to  each  of  0r  men,  young 
^'  and  old,  merchandize  and  ain^unitiq2»,Jft  the 
"  amount  of  fifty  beaver-skins,  JUfcilift,  and  for 
'^  which  I  have  no  doubt  of  their  paring  you  in 
'<  the  summer,  on  their  return  from  then*  winter- 
«ing." 


A  compliance  with  this  demand  would  have 
stripped  me  and  my  fellow-merchants  of  all  our 
merchandize ;  and.,  what  rendered  the  alfiur  still 
more  serious,  we  even  learned  that  these  Otawas 
were  never  accustomed  to  pay  for  what  they  re- 
ceived on  credit.  In  reply,  therefore,  to  the  speech 
which  we  had  heard,  we  requested  that  the  demand 
contained  in  it  might  be  diminished  ;  but  we  were 
answered,  that  the  Otawas  had  nothing  further 
to  say,  except  that  they  would  allow  till  the  next 
day  for  reflection ;  after  which,  if  compliance  was 
not  given,  they  would  make  no  further  application, 
but  take  into  their  own  hands  the  property^  which 
they  already  regarded  as  their  own,  as  having  been 
brought  into  their  country,  before  the  conclusion 
of  any  peace,  between  themselves  and  die  English., 

We  now  returned,  to  consider  pf  our  situation ; 
and,  in  the  evening,  Farley,  the  interpreter,  p||d  us 
a  visit,  and  assured  us  that  it  was  the  intention  of 
the  Otawas  to  put  us,  that  night,  to  death.  He  ad- 
vised us,  as  our  only  means  of  safetj%  to  comply 
with  the  demands  which  had  been  made  ;  but,  we 

7 


^ 


MfM 


IWi! 


i.p      M 


'■:!,>:■:: 


:i^ 


■  i'l 


'ill 


JO 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


suqiected  ou 

upos  our  fears 

the 

be,  rather 

We  trusted 


it  of  a  disposition  to  prey 
atviev^to  induce  us  to  abandon 
~  lesolVed,  however  this  might 
id  oh  the  defensive,  than  submit, 
house,  in  which  I  lived,  as  a  fort ; 
and  armed  ourselves,  and  about  thirty  of  our  men, 
with  muskets,  Whethef  or  not  the  Otawas  ever 
intended  violence,  we  never  had  an  opportunity  of 
luiowing;  but  the  night  passed  quietly. 

Early  the  next  morning,  a  second  council  was 
held,  and  the  merchants  wer&  again  summoned  to 
attend.  Believing  that  every  hope  of  resistance 
would  be  lost,  should  we  commit  our  persons  into 
the  hands  of  our  enemies,  we  sent  only  a  refut 
sal.  There  was  none  without,  in  whom  we  had 
any  confidence,  except  Campion,  From  him  we 
learned,  from  time  to  titne,  whatever  was  rumoured 
among  the  Canadian  inhabitants,  as  to  the  designs 
of  the  Otawas  ;  and,  from  him,  toward  sunset,  we 
received  the  gratifying  intelligence,  that  a  detach- 
ment of  British  soldiery,  sent  to  garrison  Michili- 
mackinac,  was  distant  ocly  five  miles,  and  would 
enter  the  fort  early  the  next  morning, 

y^lffr  at  hand,  however,  as  relief  was  reported  to 
be,  our  anxiety  could  not  but  be  great ;  for  a  long 
night  was  to  be  passed/lmd  our  fate  mi^  be  deci- 
ded before  the  morning.  To  increase  ourmppi^* 
hensions,  about  midnight  we  were  informed,  that 


> 


ir6i.j 


ADiVfiNTUttES. 


^i 


the  Otatiras  Were  holding  a  council,  at  which  no 
white  man  was  permitted  to  be  present,  Farley 
alone  excepted  i  and  him  we  susp^gted,  and  after* 
ward  positively  knew,  to  be  oui*  greatest  enemy^ 
We,  on  our  part,  remained  all  nl||^t  upon  the 
alert;  but,  at  day-break,  to  our  surpnze  and  joy, 
we  saw  the  Otawas  preparing  to  depalt^  By  sun- 
rise, iiot  a  man  of  them  was  left  in  the  fort ;  aiicip , 
indeed,  the  scene  was  altogether  changed*  The 
inhabitants^  who,  while  the  Otawas  were  present, 
had  avoided  all  connection  with  the  Englidi  tra- 
ders, now  catne  with  congratukitions/  They  rela- 
ted, that  the  Otawas  had  proposed  to  them,  that  if 
joined  by  the  Canadians^  they  would  march^  and 
attack  the  troc^s  which  were  known  to  be  advan- 
cing on  the  fort ;  and  they  added,  that  it  was  their 
refusal  which  had  determined  the  Otawas  to  de- 
part/ 

At  noon,  three  hundred  troops,  of  the  sixtieth 
regiment,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  L^^^lieg 
marched  into  the  ibrt ;  and  this  mivsyi  dissipated  alJ 
our  fears^  firom  whatever  source  derived*  Afi^r  a 
few  days,  detachments  were  sent  ^to  the  Bay  des 
Puans^  by  which  is  the  route  tp  the  Missisipi^  and 
at  the  mbuth  of  the  Saintr  Joseph,  which  leadb  to 
Illinois*  The  Indians,  from  aU  quarters^  came  to  \ 
their  respects  to  the  comn^njdant ;.  and  the  mer- 
chants dispatched  their  canoes,  though  it  was  now 
the  middle  of  September,  and  therefore  somewhat 
I  late  in  the  season* 


l' 


w 


# 


CHAPTER  V. 


fii^i 


Hi'-  I 


■|ili:^ 


'>ri 


4 


m 


Ofthepartictttar  mode  qf  victualling  the  canoes,  at 
Micki&mackinac — and  its  importance  to  the  trade 
in  furs*  Winter  amusements  at  Mich^mack- 
mac — hunting^-^fishing-^trout-Jislmig*  Exorbi' 
tant  price  qf  grain  and  beef*  Furs  the  circulating 
mediumr^heir  nominal  value,  fFhite-fishr-^-and 
mode  of  taking  it*  Anecdote  of  a  Chipeway 
Chief.    Depth  qf  Snmv^^retum  of  Spring. 

TH£  village  of  L'Arbre  Croche  supplies,  as  I 
have  said>  the  maize,  or  Indian  com,  with  which  the 
canoes  are  victualled.  This  species  of  grain  is  prepa- 
red ifbr  use,  by  boiling  it  in  a  strong  lie,  after  which 
the  husk  may  be  easily  removed ;  and  it  is  next 
mashed  and'  dried.  In  this  state^  it  is  soft  and 
friable,  like  rice<  The  allowance,  for  each  man, 
on  the  voyage,  is  a  quart  a  day ;  and  a  bushel,  with 
two  pounds  of  prepared  fat,  is  reckoned  to  be  ^  | 
numth's  subsistence.  No  other  allowance  is  made,  I 
ofany  kind ;  not  even  of  salt ;  and  br^ad  is  never | 
thought  of.  The  men,  nevertheless,  aire  healthyJ 
and  capable  of  performing  their  heavy  labour. 
This    mode   of  victualling   is  essential   to   the 


IWI.] 


TRAVELS,  «tc. 


3d 


trade,  which  being  pursued  at  great  distances, 
and  in  vessels  so  small  as  canoes,  will  not  admit  of 
the  use  of  other  food*  If  the  men  were  to  be  sup- 
plied with  bread  &nd  pork,  the  canoes  could  not 
cany  a  sufEciency  for  six  months ;  and  the  ordina- 
ry duration  of  the  voyage  is  not  less  than  fourteen.  / 
Thedifficulty,  which  would  belong  to  an  attempt, 
to  reconcile  any  other  men,  than  Canadians,  to  this 
&re,  seems  to  secure  to  them,  and  their  employers, 
the  monopoly  of  the  fur -trade. 

The  sociable  disposition  of  the  commandant  ctOL^ 
bled  us  to  pass  the  winter,  at  Michilimackinac,in  a 
manner  as  agreeable  as  circumstances  would  per- 
mit. The  amusements  consisted  chiefly  in  shoot- 
mg,  hunting  and  fishing.  The  neighbouring 
woods  abounded  in  partridges*  and  hares,  the 
latter  of  which  is  white  in  winter  ;  and  the  lake  is 
filled  with  fish,  of  which  the  most  celebrated  9ce 
trout,  white-fish  and  sturgeon.  * 


Trout  are  taken  by  making  holes  in  the  ice,  in 
which  are  set  lines  and  baits.  These  are  often  left 
for  many  days  together,  and  in  some  places  at  the 
depthof  fifty  fathoms;  for,  the  trout  having  swallow- 
ed the  bait,  remains  fast,  and  alive,  till  taken  up. 

*Iti  North' America,  there  14  nofidrttidgei  but  the  name 
is  given  to  more  than  one  species  of  grouse.  The  birds, 
here  intended,  are  red  grouse.  ' 


!  !'!!: 


.■'! 


54  TRAYBLSAND  |J>LD. 

This  fish,  which  is  found  of  the  weight  of  firom  ten 
to  sixty  pounds,  and  upward,  constitutes  the  prin» 
cipal  food  of  the  inhabitantsr  When  this  fails, 
they  have  recourse  to  maize,  but  this  is  Vety  ex- 
pensive, t  bought  more  than  a  hundred  bushels, 
at  forty  iivres  per  bushel.  Money  is  rarely  receiv- 
ed  or  psud  at  Michilimackinac,  the  circulating 
medium  consisting  in  furs  and  peltries.  In 
this  exchange,  a  pound  of  beaver-skiq  is  reckoned 
at  sixty  sols ;  an  otter-skin,  afsix  livres  i  and  mar- 
ten-skins,  at  thirty  sols,  each.  This  is  only  one 
half  of  the  real  value  of  the  furs ;  and  it  is  therefore 
always  agreed,  to  pay  either  in  furs  at  their  actual 
price  at  the  fort^  or  in  cash,  to  double  the  amounty 
as  reckoned  in  furs. 


m 


At  the  same  time  that  I  paid  the  price,  which  I 
have  mentioned,  for  maize,  I  paid  at  the  rate  of  a  dol- 
lar per  pound  ibr  the  tallow,  or  prepared  fat,  to  mix 
with  it.  The  nleat  itself  was  at  the  same  price. 
The  Jesuit  missionary  killed  an  ox,  which  he  sold 
by  the  quarter,  taking  the  Weight  of  the  meat  in 
beaver^skin.  Beaver-skin,  as  just  intimated,  was 
worth  a  dollar  per  pound* 

These  high  prices  of  grain  and  beef  led  me  to  be 
very  iiidustrious  in  fishing,  fl  usually  set  twenty 
lines,  and  visited  them  jdaily,  and  often  founds  at 
every  visit,  fish  enough  to  feed  a  hundred  men* 
White-fish,  which  exceed  the  trout,  as  a  delicious 


1/61.] 


ADVian'URES. 


55 


and  nutritive  food,  are  here  in  astonishing  num* 
bers.  In  shq>ey  they  somewhat  resemble  the  shad ; 
but  their  flavour  is  perhaps  above  all  comparison 
whatever*  Those,  who  live  on  them  for  months 
together,  preserve  their  relish  to  the  end.  This 
cannot  be  said  of  the  trout. 


The  white*fish  is  taken  in  nets,  which  are  set  under 
the  ice.  To  do  thi^  several  holes  are  made  in  the  ice, 
each  at  such  dbtance  from  that  behind  it,  as  that  it 
may,  be  reached,  under  the  ice.  by  the  end  of  a  pole. 
A  line,  of  sixty  fathoms  in  length,  is  thus  convey- 
ed from  hole  to  hole,  till  it  i?  extended  to  the  length 
desired.  This  done,  the  pole  is  taken  out,  and 
with  it  one  end  of  the  line,  to  which  the  end  b  then 
fastened.  The  line  being  now  drawn  back,  by  an 
assistant,  who  holds  the  opposite  extremity,  the  net 
is  brought  under,  and  a  large  stone  is  mac|f  &8t  to 
the  sinking-line,  at  each  end,  and  let  down  to  the 
bottom ;  and  the  net  is  spread  iii  the  wate^,  by 
lifters  on  its  upper  edge,  sinkers  on  its  lower,  in 
the  usual  manner.  The  fish,  running  against  the 
net,  entangle  their  gills  m  the  meshes,  and  are  thus 
detained  till  taken  up.  White-fish  is  used  as  a 
bait  for  trout.     They  are  much  smaller  than  the 

>ut,  but  usually  weigh,  at  Michilimackinac,  fixmi 
three  to  seven  pounds. 

During  the  whole  winter,  very  few  Indians  visit- 
ed  the  fort ;  but,  two  families,  one  of  which  was 


56 


tRAVELS,  «cc. 


that  of  a  chief,  had  their  lodges  on  a  river,  five 
leagues  below ois,  and  occasionally  brought  bea- 
ver-flesh for  sale. 


'",1,  .ii 


i;jrH: 


',|l:,;      '!"! 


•'!l' 


.1: 


I!"     ■^ 


mm 


:l.li 


The  chief  was  warmly  attached  to  the  English. 
He  had  been  taken  prisoner  by  Sir  William  John- 
son, at  the  siege  of  Fort  Niagara;  and  had  received, 
from  that  intelligent  officer,  his  liberty,  the  medal 
usually  presented  to  a  chief,  ar^  the  British  flag. 
Won,  by  these  unexpected  acts  of  kindness,  he 
had  returned  to  Michilimackinac,  full  of  praises  of 
the  English,  and  hoisting  his  flag  over  his  lodge. 
This  latter  demonstration  of  his    partiality  had 
nearly  cost  him  his  life ;  his  lodge  was  broken 
down,  and  his  flag  torn  to  pieces.  The  pieces  he  care- 
fully  gathered  up,  and  preserved  with  pious  care ; 
and,  whenever  he  came  to  the  fort,  he  drew  them 
forth,  aod  exhibited  them.     On  these  occasions,  it 
grew  into  a  custom,  to  give  him  as  much  liquor  as 
he  said  was  neceissary  to  make  him  cry,  over  the 
misfortune  of  losing  his  flag.     The  commandant 
would  have  given  him  another  ^  but  he  thought 
that  he  could  not  accept  it  without  danger. 

The  greatest  depth  of  snow,  throughout  the 
Reason,  was  three  feet.  On  the  second  day  of 
April,  the  ice  On  the  lake  broke  up,  and  the  navi- 
gation was  resumed  ;  and  we  immediately  began 
to  receive,  from  the  Indians  around  us,  large  sup- 
ples of  wild-fowl. 


%k 


CHAPTER  VI. 

f^otfhgefiomMlchilimackinac  to  the  Sault  de  Samte- 
Marie,  Description  of  the  Fort,  fFhite-JUh^^ 
singular  method  qf  taking  them,  ViUage  qf  Chi- 
peways.  O'pimittish  IniniwaCj  fTood-IndianSf 
or  Gens  de  Terres — their  condition — mode  qf 
l^fe^^food  and  clothing.  Summer,  The  Fort 
receives  a  Garrison  from  Michdunaclanae* 

BEING  desirous  of  vbiting  the  Sault  de  S^nte^ 
Maiie,  I  left  Michilimackinac  on  the  15th  of 
May,  in  a  canoe.  The  Sault  de  Sainte*Marir 
is  distant  from  Michilimackinac  thirty  leagues,  and 
I  lies  in  the  strait  which  separates  Lake  Huron  Qrooi 
[Lake  Superior. 

Having  passed  Le  Detour,  a  point  of  land  at  the 
[entrance  of  the  strait,  our  course  lay  among  nume* 
rous  islands,  some  of  which  are  twenty  miles  in 
length.  We  ascended  the  rapid  of  Miscoutinsaki, 
la  spot  well  adapted  for  mill-seats,  and  above  which 
is  the  mouth  of  the  river  of  the  sallTe  name.  The 
llandS)  on  th^  south  shore  of  this  river,  are  excel* 


•?;. 


tr*- 


58 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


lent.  The  lake  i^  bordered  by  meadows,  and,  at  a 
short  distance  back,  are  groves  of  sugar-maple. 
From  this  river,  to  the  Sault  de  Sainte-Marie,  is 
one  continued  meadow. 


■!r,'iii.! 


i'  i'l 


I'.i' 


i;^' 


On  the  19th,  I  reached  the  Sault.  Here  was  a 
stockaded  fort,  in  which,  under  the  French  govern- 
ment,  there  was  kept  a  small  garrison,  commanded 
m  by  an  officer,  who  was  called  the  governor ^  but  was 
m  fact  a  clerk,  who  managed  the  Indian  trade  here, 
on  government  account.  The  houses  were  four  in 
number;  of  which  the  first  was  the  governor's, 
the  second  the  interpreter's,  and  the  other  two, 
which  were  the  smallest,  had  been  used  for  bar- 
racks./ The  only  family  was  that  of  M.  Cadotte, 
the  interpreter,  whose  wife  was  a  Chipeway. 

I^e  fort  is  seated  on  a  beautiful  plain,  of  about 
two  nfiles  in  circumference,  and  covered  with 
luxuriant  grass  ;  and,  within  sight,  are  the  rapids 
in  ttie  strait,  distant  half  a  mile.  The  width  of  the 
strait,  or  river,  is  about  half  a  mile.  TheportagCy 
or  carrying^place,  commences  at  the  fort.  The! 
banks  are  rocky,  and  allow  only  a  narrow  fbot-pati 
over  them.  Canoes,  half  loaded,  ascend,  on  the  | 
south  side,  and  the  other  half  of  the  load  is  cairied 
on  men's  shoidders. 


These  rapids  are  beset  with  rocks  of  the  most 
dangerous  description ;  and  yet  they  are  the  scene 


II'M.] 


ADVENTURES. 


S^ 


of  a  fisher>%  in  which  all  th^ir  dangers  are  braved, 
and  Miistcied  Airlth  singular  expertness.  They  are 
full  of  white-fish,  much  larger  and  more  excel- 
lent than  those  of  Michilimackinac,  and  which 
are  found  here  during  the  greater  part  of  the  sea- 
son, weighing,  in  general,  from  six  pounds  to 
fifteen. 


The  method  of  taking  them  is  this :  each  canoe 
carries  two  men,  one  of  whom  steers  with  a  paddle^ 
and  the  other  is  provided  with  a  pole,  ten  feet  in 
length,  and  at  the  end  of  which  is  afBsed  a  scoop- 
net.  The  steersman  sets  the  canoe  from  the  eddy 
of  one  rock  to  that  of  another ;  while  the  fisherman, 
in  the  prow,  who  sees,  through  the  pellucid  ele- 
ment, the  prey  of  which  he  is  in  pursuit,  dips  his 
net,  and  sometimes  brings  up,  at  every  succeeding 
dip,  as  many  as  it  can  contahi.  The  fish  are  often 
crowded  together  in  the  water,  in  great  numbers ; 
and  a  skilful  fisherman,  in  autumn,  will  take  five 
hundred  in  two  hours,  • 


n; 


This  fishery  is  of  great  moment  to  the  surround- 
ing Indians,  whom  it  supplies  with  a  large  propor- 
tion of  their  winter's  provision ;  for,  having  taken 
the  fish,  in  the  manner  described,  they  cure  them, 
by  drying  m  the  stroke,  and  lay  them  up  m  large 
quantities. 


<fi 


THAVCXIEt  AW 


|fA^» 


u:%    ! 


There  m  «t  pr^oent  avill^of  Chi|ieinQrs»  ^ 
Hity  wnnioi^  siefitod  at  tibis  place ;  but  thfi  iobabi* 
tantsre«klehcoredMriiig [tbe  summ^  J)il#>  Igoing 
westward,  in  the  winter,  to  hunt,  Thd  village  was 
anciently  much  more  populouSf  o'. 

At  the  south  are  also  seen  a  few  of  tho 
wandering  O'pimittish  Ininmac,  literally,  Men  of 
^le  WdQ4«,  and  otherwise  called  Wood*Ini^Uans, 
^bid  Gens  de  Terres-^ft  peaceable  and  ino£Eensive 
race,  but  less  conversant  with  some  of  the  arts 
of  first  necessity  than  any  of  their  neighbours.  They 
have  no  villages ;  and  their  lodges  are  so  rudely 
fashioned,  as  to  afford  them  but  veiy  inadequate 
protecidon  against  inclement  skies.  The  greater 
part  of  their  year  is  spent  in  travelling  fiY>m  place  to 
place,  in  search  of  food.  The  animiU,  on  which 
they  chiefly  depend,  is  the  hare.  This  they  take  in 
springes.  Of  the  skin,  they  make  cove  rings,  with 
much  ingenuity,  cutting  it  into  narrow  strips,  and 
weaving  these  into  a  cloth,  of  the  shape  of  a  blanket, 
,    and  of  a  quality  very  warm  and  agreeable, 

The  pleasant  situation  of  the  fort,  and  still  moreJ 
the  desire  of  learning  the  Chipeway  language,  led 
me  to  resolve  on  wintering  in  it,     in  the  family 
of  M,  Cadotte,  no  other  language  than  the  Chipe- 
way was  spoken. 


Mm 


ir«3.] 


■0- 


n 


During  the  summer,  the  weather  was  sometimes 
exceedin^y  hot.  Mosquitoes  and  bkick-flies  were 
so  numerous  as  to  be  a  heavy  counterpoise  to  the 
pleasure  of  hunting.  Pigeons  were  in  great  plen- 
ty ;  the  stream  supplied  our  drink ;  and  sickness 
was  unknown. 


In  the  course  of  die  season,  a  small  jdetachment 
of  troops,  undm*  the  command  of  Lieutewl  Jj 
mette,  arrived  to  garrison  the  fort 


^ 


i'  '^"' 


...it  •  ■  '  ' 


mm 


'wmmjii 


!().:.;•, 


li> 


it^.i.^ 


CHAPTER  VII. 


U: 


il      v.. 


>''  I 


:" 


W'i 


An  abundant  supply  of  Fish  is  obtained  at  the  Fort — 
but  improvidently  managed.  The  Governor's 
fouse,  and  others^  burnt,  together  wrth  all  the  pro- 
ions  of  the  Garrison.  The  Soldiers,  to  avoid 
famine,  are  re-embarked  for  Mxchilimackinac, 
Method  of  taking  Trout  with  spears.  The  Author 
accompanies  the  Commandant  and  Interpreter,  on 
a  Journey,  by  land,  to  Michilimackinac.  The 
party  is  twice  in  danger  of  starving — it  reaches 
Michilimackinac.     Author  returns  to  the  Sault, 

,  Account  of  the  Snow-  Shoe  Evil.  Bay  ofBoutchi- 
taouy.  Maple-sugar  making.  Author  returns 
to  Michilimackinac. 

IN  the  beginning  of  October,  the  fish,  as  is  usual, 
was  in  great  abundance  at  the  Sault ;  and,  by  the 
fifteenth  day  of  the  month,  I  had  riyself  taken  up- 
ward of  five  bundled.  These,  I  caused  to  be  dried, 
in  the  customary  manner,  by  suspending  them,  in 
pairs,  head  downward,  on  long  poles,  laid  horizon- 
tally, for  that  purpose,  and  supported  by  two 
stakes,  driven  into  the  ground  at  either  end. 
The  fish  are  frozen  the  first  night  after  they  are 
taken  ;  and,  by  the  aid  of  the  severe  cold  of  the 


ir62.} 


TRAVELS,  &«. 


63 


winter,  they  are  thus  preserved,  in  a  state  perfectly 
fit  for  use,  even  till  the  month  of  April. 

Others  were  not  less  successful  than  myself;  and 
several  canoe-loads  of  fish  were  exported  toMichili- 
mackinac,  our  commanding  officer  being  unable 
to  believe  that  hb  troops  would  have  need  to  live  on 
fish  during  the  winter ;  when,  as  he  flattered  him- 
self, a  regular  supply  of  venison  and  other  food  woi^ 
reach  the  garrison,  through  the  means  of  the  K 
dians,  whose  services  he  proposed  to  purchase, 
out  of  the  large  funds  of  liquor  which  were  sub- 
ject to  his  orders. 

But,  all  these  calculations  wei«  defeated,  by  the 
arrival'  of  a  very  serious  misfortune.  At  on^ 
o'clock,  in  the  morning  of  the  twenty-second  day 
of  December,  I  was  awakened  by  an  alarm  of 
fire,  which  was  actuary  ra^isr  in  the  houses 
of  the  commandant  and  others.  On  arriving  at 
the  commandant's,  I  found  that  this  officer  Was  still 
within  sidb;  and,  being  acquainted  with  the  win- 
'  dow  of  the  room  in  which  he  slept,  I  procured  it 
to  be  broken  in,  in  time  for  his  escape.  I  was  also 
so  fortunate  as  to  save  a  small  quantity  of  gunpow- 
der, only  a  few  moments  before  the  fire  reached  all 
the  remainder.  A  part  of  the  stockade,  all  the 
houses,  M.Cadotte's  alone  excepted,  all  the  provi- 
sionsof  the  troops,  and  a  considerable  part  of  our . 
fish,  were  burnt. 


i 


M 


% 


TRAVELS  AND 


fA.  Oi 


•■/■'h. 


■;ni 


On  consultation,  the  next  day,  it  Wfts  Agreed;  tMt 
the  only  means  which  remsuned,  at  this  late  period 
of  the  season,  to  preserve  the  garrison  from  fe- 
mine,  was  that  of  sending  it  back  to  Michilimack* 
inac.  This  was  itself  an  undertaking  of  some  peril ; 
for,  had  the  ice  prevented  their  reaching  the  place 
of  destination,  starving  would  have  become  as 
inevitable  elsewhere^  as  it  threatened  to  be  at  the 
l^ult  de  Sainte- Marie.  The  soldiers  embarked, 
and  happily  reached  Michilimackinac  on  the  thirty* 
first  day  of  the  month.  On  the  very  next  mom- 
ing,  the  navigation  was  wholly  closed. 


i:! 


!i':,:i!i 


lii:> 


i.ji'i 


,.:  i 


The  commandant,  and  all  the  rest,  now  lived 
in  one  small  house,  subsisting  only  by  hunting 
and  fishing.  The  woods  afforded  us  some  hares 
and  partridges,  and  we  took  large  trout  urith 
the  spear.  In  order  to  spear  trout  under  the 
ice,  holes  being  first  cut,  of  tvfo  yards  in  cir- 
cumference, cabins  of  about  two  feet  in  height, 
are  built  over  them,  of  small  branches  of  trees  ; 
and  these  are  fiirtiier  covered  witii  skins,  so  as 
wholly  to  exclude  the  light.  The  design  and  re- 
sult of  this  contiivance  isj  to  render  it  practicable 
to  discern  objects  in  the  water,  at  a  very  considera- 
ble depth ;  for  the  reflection  of  light  from  the  wa- 
ter gives  that  element  an  opaque  appearance, 
and  hides  all  objects  from  the  eye,  at  a  small  dis- 
tance beneath  its  surface.  A  spear-head  of  iron 
is  fastened  on  a  pole,  of  about  ten  feet  in  lengthv 


X763.3 


ADVENTURES. 


*4 

69 


lliis  instrument  is  lowered  into  the  water ;  uid 
the  fisherman,  lying  upon  his  belly,  with  his  head 
under  the  cabin  or  cover,  and  therefore  over  the 
hole,  lets  down  the  figure^)f  a  fish,  in  wood,  and 
filled  with  lead.  Round  the  middle  of  the  fish,  is 
tied^  small  packthread ;  and,  when  at  the  depth  of 
ten  fathom,  where  it  is  intended  to  bexmplc^edi^ 
it  is  made,  by  drawing  the  string,  and  by  the  simulta*> 
neous  pressure  of  the  water,  to  move  forward,  \ 
the  manner  of  a  real  fish.  Trout  and  other 
fish,  deceived  by  its  resemblance,  spring  toward  it, 
to  seize  it ;  but,  by  aBexterous  jerk  of  the  string,  it 
is  instandy  taken  out  of  their  reach.  The  decoy  is 
now  drawn  nearer  to  the  sur&ce;  and  the  fish  takes 
some  time  to  renew  the  attack,  during  which  the 
spear  is  raised,  and  held  conveniently  for  striking. 
On  the  return  of  the  fish,  the  spear  is  plunged  into 
its  back  i  and,  the  spear  being  barbed,  it  is  eaiuly 
drawn  out  oi  the  water.  So  completely  do  the  rays 
of  the  light  pervade  the  element,  that  in  three 
fathom  water,  I  have  often  seen  the  shadows  of  the 
fish,  on  the  bottom,  following  them  as  they  moved; 
and  thb,  when  the  ice  itself  was  two  feet  in  thick- 
ness. 


By  these  pursuits,  and  others  of  a  similar  kind, 
we  supported  ourselves  for  two  months,  that  is, 
until  the  twentieth  of  February,  when  we  imagined 
the  lake  to  be  frozen,  and  Michilimackinac  there- 
fore accessible  ;  and,  the  commandant  wishing  to 

9 


66 


TRAVELSiUfD 


[A.  It 


go  to  that  fort,  M^  Cadbtte,  myself,  two  Canadians 
»and  two  Indians,  agreed  to  accompany  him.  11k 
Canadians  and  Indians  were  loaded  witfa|SQ|Bfi 
parched  maize,  ^me  fish^  a  few  pieces  of  scorcfied 
pork,  which  had  been  saved  from  the  fire,  and  a 
few  loaves  of  bread,  made  of  flour,  which  was  also 
partly  burnt. 


\\<X(\ 


mm 


'■! 


i|i 


?.:: 


'^•/:! 


• 


Wewialked  on  snow-shoes,  a  mode  of  travel- 
Hng  sufficiently  fatiguing  to  myself,  but  of  which 
the  commandant  had  had  no  previous  experience 
whatever..  Inconsequence,  cfSt  progress  was  slow, 
wearisome  and  disastrous.  On  the  seventh  day  of 
our  march,  we  had  only  reached  Point  du  Detour, 
which  lies  half  way  between  the  Sault  and  Michili- 
ndackinac ;  and  here,  to  our  mortification  andidis- 
may,  we  found  the  lake  ^till  open,  and  the  ice  drift- 
ing. Our  provisions,  too,  on  examination,  were 
fouiid  to  be  nearly  expended ;  and  nothing  remain^ 
ed  for  us  to  do,  but  tb  send  back  the  Canadians  aild 
Indians^  whose  motions  would  be  swift,  for  an  addi- 
tiomd  supply. 

In  vheir  absence,  the  commandant,  M.  Cadotte 
and  myself,  three  persons  in  number,  were  left  with 
abdut  two  pounds  of  pork  and  three  of  bread,  for 
our  subsistence  during  the  three  days,  and  perhaps 
four,  which  they  would  require,  for  a  joumey  of 
ninety  miles.  Being  appointed  to  act  the  part  of 
commissary,  I  divided  the  provisions  into  four 


hi 


v!y'' 


#»*.] 


dimEnrmfiez, 


part%  one ior  each  diqr;  anfl,,^';oiirgreal  hafipi-  ' 
IK88,  at  tea  o'clock,  on  thefeurth  daf »  our^fiuthful « 
IMTiwiivetmncd.    Eariy,  in  themoirningafthc 
m^  W9  left  dhr^noampment,  and  ]^oceeded.  The 
weither,  this  day,  was  exceedingly  cold. 

We  had  only  advanced  two  leafpiei^  wtimthe 
commandant  found  it  almost  uSholly  imposable  to 
•go  further,  his  feet  being  blialpred  b]r;the;  cords 
of  the  snow^hoes.  On  ^^fhis  aacount^  we  made 
short  marches,  for  three  ^s ;  and  this  loss  of 
time  threatened  us  llbew  With  fiinrine.  We  were 
now  too  fiu-  from  the  Sault,  to  send  back  for  a 
supply ; .  and  it  ^  was  therefore  j^ermined  thai  my- 
self, accompanied  by  one  of  the  Canadians,  should 
goufs  speedily  as  posaible  to  Michilimackinac,  and  ^ 
there  inform  ^e  qpmmanding  officer  of  the  situa- 
tion of  those  behind.  Accordingly,  the  nextmom-"^ 
ing,  at  break  of  day>  I  left  my  feUow-suffisrers,  and 
at  three  O'clock  in  tiie  afternoon  had  the  {Measure 
of  entering  the  fort,  whence  aparty  was«ent  the 
next  monung,*with  provisions.  This  party  return- 
ed  on  the  third  day,  brining  with  it  Lieutenant 
Jemette  and  the  rest,  in  safety.  Major  Ethering- 
ton,,  «f  the  sixtieth  regiment,  who  had  arrived  in 
the  preceding  autumn,  now  commanded  at  ^e 
fort. 


1( 


^^1 


I  remained  at  Michilimackinac  until  the  10th  of 
March,  on  which  day  I  sat  out  on  my  return  to  the 


^8 


TRAVELS  AND 


CA.1^ 


M     |}| 


■Hi    .,( 


ill  ,.  I., I  :.y, 

III'.' ;;  I'H 


Sault,  taking  the  ro^t^  of  the  Bay  of  Boutchitaouy, 
which  the  ice  had^ow  rendered  practicable.  From 
the  bottodf  oTthe  bay,  the  course  lies  iiHI^diijxt 
line  through  the.^ood%  a  journey  I  perform^  in^ 
two  days,  though  I  was  now  troubled  with  a  dppr- 
der,  called  the  snow-shoe  evH,  proceeding  froA  an 
unusual  sthain  tm  the  tendons  of  the  -IcKt  occamned 
by  the  wei^t  of  tne  sn«w.8hoe,«and  bringi  on  In^ 
flammJation*.  The  remedy,  presoribedrin  the  coun^ 
try,  is  that  of  laying  %  jpiece  of  li^l||i  touchwood 
on  the  part,  and  Irving  it  there  till  the  iesh  is  burnt 
tdthe^erve;  but  thi»%xperiinent,  though.  I  had 
frequently  seen  it  attended  iwith  succesa  iivothera, 
I  did  not  think  proper  to  make  upofi  ni|i|^. 


'ii>i« 


The  lands^  between  the  Bajy  of  BjputchitaoujiMMMi 
the  Sault,  are  generally  swamp3%exel^ting  so  much 
of  them  as  compose  a  ridge,  or  mpimtain,  running 
east  and  west  j  and  which  is  rocky,  and  covered 
with  the  rq^k  or  sugar  maple,  or  sugar-wood.^ 
The  season,  for  makiiig  maple-sugar,  was  now  at 
hand ;  and,  shortly  after  my  arrival  at  the  Sault,.! 
removed,*  with  the  other  inhabitsmts,  to  the  pl&ce 
at  which  we  were  to  perform  the  manufacture* 


■;l  ■/;! 


,  A  certain  part  of  the  ipa]^-woods  Slaving  been 
chosen,  and  wh|(Sh  was  distant  abbut  three  miles 
from  the  fort,  a  house,  tweftty  feet  long,  and  fbur- 


^  Acer  ^»cchann\uii. 


>■ 


ires.] 


ADVENTURES. 


§Q 


brokif  was  begun  in  the  mormng,  and  before 
night  tnac2«  fit  for  te  comfortably  rqpeption  of 
ei^  pirsr4)s,  and  their  baggage.  It  was  open  at 
tq>,  had  a  door  at  each  end,  and  a  fire*pkce  in  the 
miifle,  roniiing  the  whde  length. 

The  next^daf  \<ras« employed  in  gathering  the 
balk  ofwhitie  bbch*trecs,  i^th  which  to  make  ves^  * 
$th  to  catcK  thii%ine  or  sap.  The  treeswers 
now  cut  or  ta|i|ied/  a^d  spwilts  6f  ducts  introdu- 
ced into  tlw  wound.  The  bark  vessels  were  placed 
nndbr  the  dudts ;  and,  as  Chey  filled^  the  liquor 
was  taken  t>iit  in  buckeil^  and  conveyed  into  reser- 
voirs or  vatti  of^noosc'-skin)  each  vat  (Containing  a 
hundred  gallons.  Prom  these,  we  supplied  tho  ' 
boilers,  of  wluch  ^liail  tv^elve,  of  from  twelve  to 
twenty  gajlons  "tachf  with  ftrcs  constantly  under 
them,  day  aiid  nig^t.  While  tlv?  women  collected 
the  sap,  boilei  it,  and  completed  the  sugar,  the 
men  were  not  less  busy  in  cutting  wood,  making 
fires,  *and  in  hunting  and  fishing,  in  pait  of  our 
supply  of  food.  ^         ' 


The  earMer  part  of  the  spring  is  that  best  adapts 
ed  to  making^  ma{>le>sugar.  The  sap  runs  only  ' 
in  the  day;  and  it  will  not  run,  unless  there  has 
been  a  frost  the  nfght  before.  WhSi,  in  the  morn- 
ing,' there  is  a  dear  sun,  and  the  night  has  left  ice 
of  the  thickness  of  a  dollar,  the  greatest  quantity  i$ 
produced. 


I 


"•?;:; 
V 


70 


TRAVELS,  kc. 


,V! 


iilv! 


1763.] 


On  the  twenty-fifth  of  April,  our  labour  ended, 
and  we  returned  to  the  fort,  canying.  withiis,  aa^we 
found  by  the  scales,  sixteen  hundred  weight  of 
•ugar.  We  had,  besides,  thir^-six  gall<ma  of 
syrup ;  and,^  during  our  stay  in  the  Woods,  we  cer. 
tainly  consumed  three  hundred  weight.  Though, 
as  I  have  said,  we  hunted*ai|4  fisted,  yet  sugar  was 
our  principal,  food,  diiriifg  the  whole  month  of 
April.  I  have  known  Indians  CO  live  wholly  upon 
the  same,  and  become  fat.    .  /^  « 

On  the  day  of  our  return  to  the  fort,  ^re  arri'. 
vedan  English  gentleillln,  &r  Robert 'Dovers, 
on  a  voyage  of  curiosity.  ^  accompanied  this 
gentleman,  on  his  return  to  J^i^ hilimackinac,  which 
we  reached  on  the  twentieth  cf  MayC  My  inten. 
tion  was  to  remmn  there,  till  tfler  my  clerks  should 
have  come  in  fix^m' the  interior,  and  then  to  go 
backtothe  Saultde  Sainte-Marle.v#    . 

In  the  beginning  of  May,  the  geese  and  flucbi 
made  their  appearance,  in  their  progress  north- 
ward. 


mm 


fik 


CHAPTER  Vni. 


Rumours  of  htatiie  designs,  on  the  part  of  the  Jif- 
diansy  against  Michilimackinac.  The  Command'' 
ant  wholly  discredits  them^  and  they  are  generally 
disregarded,  Indians  assemble,  in  unusual  num- 
bers; Imt  exMbit  only  the  most  friendly  behaviour. 
The  Author  is^mged,  ^  an  Indian,  to  retire fom 
MtchiHmaekimt,  Singular  Incident.  Few  appre- 
hensions are  entertained  within  the  Fort. 


WHEN  I  reached  Michilimackinac,  I  found 
I  vera!  other  traders,  who  had  arrived  before  me, 
from  different  parts  of  the  countiy,  and  who,  m 
genera],  declared  the  dispositions  of  the  Indians  to 
Ibe  holtile  to  the  English,  and  even  apprehended 
isome  attack.      M.  Laurent  Ducharme  distinctly 
|informed  Major  Etherington,  d)at  a  plan  was  abso- 
lutely conceived,  for  destrojring  him,  his  garrison 
|and  all  the  Englbh  in  the  upper  country  ;  but,  the 
commandant,  believing  this  and  other  reports  to  be 
without  foundation,  proceeding  only  from  idl(^  or 
fU-dispo&d   persons,   and  of  a  tendency  to  do 
iiischief,  expressed  much  displeasure  against  M. 
ducharme,  and  threatened  to  send  the  next  nerscm. 


^-/ 


\ 


cCf'^J 


Vt[  7'. 


■>» 


p. 


I'm   »)!' 

'   r'  '■!l. 


72 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


who  lihould  bring  si  story  of  the  same  kind,  H  pri- 
spider,  to  D6troit. 

The  garrison,  at  this  time,  Consisted  of  ninety 
privates,  two  subalterns  and  the  commandant ;  and 
the  English  merchants,  at  the  fort,  were  four  in 
|unuil4)er.  Thus  strong,  few  entertained  anxiety  con> 
dinuhg  the  Indians,  who  had  no  weapons  but  small 
arms.  ' 


Meanwhile,  the  Indians,  from  every  quarter, 
were  daily  assembling,  in  unusual  numbers,  but 
with  every  appearance  of  friendship,  frequetiting  the 
fort,  and  disposing  of  their  peltries,  in  such  a  man. 
ner  as  to  dissipate  almost  every  one's  fears.  For 
myself,  on  one  occasion,  I  took  theiiberty  of  ob- 
serving to  Major  Ethering^on,  that  in  my  judg- 
ment, no  confidence  ought  to  be  placed  In  them, 
and  that  I  was  informed  no  less  than  four  hundred 
lay  around  the  fort. 


In  return,  the  major  only  rallied  me,  on  myj 
timidity;  and  it  is  to  be  confessed,  that  if  this  officer) 
neglected  admonitioii,  on  his  part,  so  did  I,  oo| 
mine.     Shortly  after  my  first  arrival  at  Michili< 
mackinac,    in  the  preceding  year,  a  ChipewayJ 
named   Wa'wa'tam',   began   to   come  often  to 
my  house,  betraying,  in  his  demeanour,  strong 
msAs  of  personal  regard.  After  this  had  continued 
for  some  time,  he  came,  on  a  certain  day,  bringing 


irw.j 


ADVENTUBES. 


7a 


with  him  lus  whole  family,  and,  at  the  same  thne,  a 
large  present,  consisting  of  skins,  sugar  and  dried 
meat.  Having  laid  these  in  a  heap,  he  commen- 
ced a  speech,  in  which  he  informed  me,  that  some 
years  before,  he  had  observed  a  &st,  devoting  him- 
self, according  to  the  custom  of  his  nation,  to  soli* 
iude,  and  to  the  mortification  of  hb  body,  in  the 
hope  lo  obtain,  ^m  the  Great  Spirit,  protection- 
through  all  his  days ;  that  on  this  occasion,  he  had 
dreamed  of  adopting  an  Englishman,  as  his  son,  bro- 
ther and  friend ;  that  from  the  moment  in  which  he 
first  beheld  me,  he  had  recoghised  me  as  the  person 
whom  the  Great  Spirit  had  been  pleased  to  point 
out  to  him  for  a  brother ;  that  he  hoped  that  I  would 
not  reiiise  his  present ;  and  that  he  should  forever 
regard  me  as  one  of  his  family. 

I  could  do  no  otherwise  than  accept  the  present, 
and  declare  my  willingness  to  ha ve  so  good  a  man, 
as  this  appeared  to  be,  for  my  friend  and  brother. 
I  offered  a  present  in  return  for  that  which  I  had 
received,  which  Wawatam  accepted,  and  then, 
dianking  me  for  the  fiivour  which  he  said  that  I  had 
rendered  him,  he  left  me,  and  soon  afusr  set  out 
•D  his  wimer's  hunt 

Twelve  months  had  now  elapsed,  since  th«  oc- 
currence of  this  incident,  and  I  had  almost  forgotten 
the  person  of  my  brother,  when,  on  the  second  day 
of  June,  Wa^'atam  came  again  to  my  hQusc,  in  a. 

10 


% 


r'S 


r  i 


V4 


TftAVELM  AND 


[A.  1>. 


m  'i'. 


I ' 


?*1 


tfir.pcr  ohnind  viiibly  melancholy  and  thoughtllil. 
He  told  me,  that  he  had  just  returned  from  h^H 
wintering-iftvimdt  and  I  naked  after  hia  health ; 
but,  withmit  answering  my  question,  he  went  on  to 
^aly,  that  he  was  very  sorry  to  find  me  returned 
from  the  Hatilt ;  thmt  he  had  intended  to  go  to  that 
place  himself,  immediately  after  his  arrival  at 
Michilimackinac ;  and  that  he  wished  me  to 
go  there,  along  with  him  and  his  family,  the 
next  morning.  To  all  this,  he  joined  an  inquiry, 
\vhcther  or  not  the  commandant  had  heard  bad 
ticMns,  adding,  that,  during  the  winter,  he  had  him- 
self been  frequently  disturtxd  with  the  noise  qf 
rvii  birds ;  and  furtlicr  suggesting,  that  there 
UTre  numerous  Indians  near  the  fort,  many  of 
whom  had  never  shown  themselves  within  it.— • 
Wawatam  was  about  forty-five  years  of  age,  of  an 
cxcellem  character  among  his  nation,  and  a  chief. 

Hcferringmuch  of  what  I  her«tl  to  the  peculiarities 
<yf  the  Indian  <^aructer,  I  did  not  pay  all  the  atten- 
tion, which  they  will  be  found  to  liave  deserved,  to 
the  entreaties  and  remarks  of  my  visitor.  I  answer- 
ed that  r  could  not  think  of  going  to'ttte  Sault,  so 
soon  as  the  next  morning,  but  would  follow  him 
there,  after  the  arrival  of  my  clerks.  Finding  him- 
self unable  to  pre\'ail  witli  me,  he  withdrew,  for 
that  diiy ;  but,  early  the  next  morning,  he  came 
again,  bringing  with  him  his  wife,  and  a  present  of 


'* 


« 


irfl3.] 


ADVENTURED. 


M 


dried  incut.  At  this  interview,  after  stating  tliat  he 
liad  several  paclcs  of  beaver,  for  which  he  intends 
ed  to  deal  with  me,  he  expressed,  a  second  time, 
his  apprehensions,  from  the  numerous  Indians  who 
were  round  the  fo£t,  and  earnestly  pressed  me  to 
consent  to  an  immediate  deparlurc  for  the  Sault.— 
As  a  reason  for  this  particular  request,  he  assured 
me  tliat  all  the  Indians  proposed  to  come  in  a  body, 
that  day,  to  the  fort,  to  demand  liquor  of  the  com- 
mandant, and  that  he  wished  me  to  be  gone,  before 
they  should  grow  intoxicated. 


I  had  made,  at  the  period  to  which  I  am, now  re- 
ferring, so  much  progress  in  the  language  in  which 
Wawatam  addresified  me,  as  to  be  able  to  hold 
on  ordinary  conversation  in  it ;  but,  the  Indian 
manner  of  speech  is  so  extravagantly  figurative, 
that  it  is  only  for  a  very  perfect  master  to  follow 
and  comprehend  it  entirely.  Had  I  been  further 
advanced  in  this  respect,  I  think  that  I  should  have 
gathered  so  much  information,  from  this  my  friendly 
monitor,  as  would  have  put  me  into  possession  of 
the  design  of  the  enemy,  and  enabled  me  tcj  save 
aswell  oth»s  as  myself ;  as  it  was,  it  unfortunate- 
ly  happened,  that  I  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  every  tlung, 
leaving  Wawatam  and  his  wife,  after  long  and  pa- 
ticnt,  but  ineffectual  efforts,  to  depart  alone,  with 
dejected  countenances,  und  not  Ijefore  they  had 
each  let  fall  sone  tears. 


^1 


/  4-' 


m 


Mil  •  i' 


f'.:.' 


76 


THAVELS,  Ice. 


ir63.] 


lathe  course  of  the  same  day,  I  observed  that 
the  Indms  came  in  great  numbers  into  the  fort, 
purchasing  tomahawks,  (small  axes,  of  one  pound 
weight,)  and  frequently  desiring  to  see  silver  arm- 
bands, and  other  valuable  ornaments,  of  which  I 
had  a  large  quantity  for  sale.  These  ornaments, 
however,  they  in  no  instance  purchased ;  but,  uitfix 
turning  them  over,  left  them,  saying^  that  they 
would  call  again  the  next  day.  Their  motive,  as  it 
"^erward  appeared^  was  no  other  than  the  veiy 
artful  one  of  discovering,  by  requesting  to  see 
them,  the  particular  places  of  their  deposit,  so  that 
they  might  lay  their  hands  on  them  in  the  moment 
of  pillage  with  the  greater  certainty  and  dispatch. 

At  night,  I  turned  in  my  mind  the  visits  of  Wa- 
watam ;  but,  though  they  were  calculated  to  excite 
uneasiness,  nothing  induced  me  to  believe  that  se- 
rious mischief  was  at  hand.  The  next  day,  being 
th$  Ibiiffth  of  June,  was  the  kmg's  birth-day. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

The  King's  Birth-day  being  arrivedythe  Chipexvai/.\ 
and  Saakies  play  a  match  at  jBag'gat'hvay. 
Account  of  this  game.  Fort  Michilimackinae 
surprised  and  taken.  General  massacre  of  the 
EngRsh,  Author  solicits  protectiort  from  M. 
Langlade — and  is  refused.  Is  concealed  by  a  fe- 
male slave,  Indians  drink  the  blood  of  the  slaifi. 
Author  in  imminent  peril. 


THE  morning  was  sultr}'.  A  Chipeway  came 
to  tell  me  that  his  nation  w^s  going  to  play  ^Jt^tf^ 
gafiway,  with  the  Sacs  or  Saakicb,  anothei^Mmn 
nation,  for  a  high  wager.  He  invited  me  to  witiiess 
the  sport,  adding  that  the  commandant  was  to  ha 
there,  and  would  bet  on  the  side  of  the  Chipeways. 
In  consequence  of  this  information,  I  went  to  the 
commandant,  and  expostulated  with  him  a  little, 
representing  that  the  Indians  might  possibly  have 
some  sinister  end  in  view ;  but,  the  comraandairt 
only  smiled  rt  my  suspicions. 


*^ 


M' 


7« 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


1MI 


!'l, 


i  " 


1'i^"-i-i'l' 


!*i 


•'i;i"« 


••J     :ih|:l:i  M' 


t  'M 


"11  lf;r  'i- 


IH  ■       I      ■  V^ii- 


jBaggatmat/f  called,  by  the  Canadians,  ie  jeu 
de  la  crosscj  is  played  with  a  bat  and  ball.  The  bat 
is  about  four  feet  in  length,  curved,  and  termina- 
ting in  a  sort  of  racket.  Two  posts  are  planted  in 
the  ground,  at  a  considerable  distance  from  each 
other,  as  a  mile,  or  more.  Each  party  has  its  post, 
and  the  game  consists  in  throwing  the  baU  up  to  the 
post  of  the  adversary.  The  ball,  at  the  beginning, 
is  placed  in  the  middle  of  the  c#ursc,  and  each  par- 
ty endeavours  as  well  to  throw  the  ball  out  of  the  di- 
rection of  its  o^vn  post,  as  into  that  of  the  adversary's. 

I  did  not  go  myself  to  see  the  match  which  was 
now  to  be  played  without  the  £ort,  because,  there 
being  a  canoe  prepared  to  depart,  on  the  following 
day,  for  Montr6al,  I  employed  myself  in  writing 
letters  to  my  friends ;  and  even  when  a  fellow-tra- 
der, Mr.  Tracy,  happened  to  call  upon  me,  saying 
that  another  canoe  had  just  arrived  from  Detroit, 
and  proposing  that  I  should  go  with,  him  to  the 
beach,  to  inquire  die  news,  it  so  happened  that  I 
still  remained,  to  finish  my  letters  ;  promising  to. 
follow  Mr.  Tracy,  in  the  course  of  a  few  minutes. 
Mr.  Tracy  had  not  gone  more  than  twenty  paces 
from  my  door,  when  I  heard  an  Indian  war-cr}% 
and  a  noise  of  general  confusion. 

Going  instantly  to  my  window,  I  saw  a  crowd 
of  Indians,  within  tlie  fort,  furiously  cutting 
down  and  scalping  every  Englishman  they  founrf 


jr  \M,' 


ir*3j 


adventures! 


^9 


In  [Mirticular,  f  witneased  the  fiite  of  Lkuteiuikt 
Jeiuettc     rW'P 

I  had,  -in'the  room  in  which  I  was,  a  fowling- 
piece,  loaded  with  swan-shot.  This  I  immediately 
seized,  and  held  it  for  a  few  minutes,  waiting  to  hear 
the  drum  beat  to  arms.  In  ^is  dreadful  interval, 
I  saw  several  of  my  countrymen  fall,  and  more  than 
one  strugglingbetvi^n  the  knees  of  an  Indian,  who^ 
holding  him  in  this  manner,  scalped  him,  while 
yet  living. 

At  length,  disappointed  in  the  hope  of  seeing  re- 
sistance made  to  the  enemy,  and  sensible,  of  courfe, 
that  no  effort,  of  my  own  unassisted  arm,  could 
avail  against  four  hundred  Indians,  I  thought  only 
of  seeking  shelter.  Amid  the  slaughter  which 
was  raging,  I  observed  many  of  the  Canadian  inha« 
bitants  of  the  fort,  calmly  looking  on,  neither  op- 
p6sing  the  Indians,  nor  suffering  injury ;  and, 
from  this  circumstance,  I  conceived  a  hope  of 
finding  secwity  in  their  houses. 

Between  the  yard-door  of  my  own  house,  and 
that  of  M.  Langlade,  my  next  neighbour,  there  was 
only  a  low  fence,  over  which  I  easily  climbed.  At 
my  entrance,  I  found  the  whole  family  at  the  win- 
doAvs,  gazing  at  the  scene  of  blood  before  them.  I 
addressed  myself  immediately  to  M.  Langlade, 
beting  that  he  would  pnt  me  into  some  place  of 


■«* 


80 


tM/t^KtS  Ain> 


-i-Hfi? 


[A.  D. 


act  ofclttrky  by  which  he  might  perhapt  [iitJ«i»c 
me  from  die  general  massacre;  but;  wMle  Flittered 
xtsf  petllkm,  M.  Laagflade,  who  haiA  looked^  Ibr  a 
mmnait  «i  mtf,  ^Mtied  tglm^iHhe^window^  ibnig. 
giii§  hb  shoulders,  anMitimaiingy  that  he  eoukl  do 
iMidihig^  forme  :«^**  Qjue  voudntX'Voiu  ^efenfe- 


w 

J',  ■^■i  1 

.1 

i) 

if 

Hi  I'l:  i'  'III 

^^^HBs 

'fi'''  ''■'■' 

||l.' 

i'l 

ip: 

■■•*' 

^HIKft ,'' 

■ 

|i|  • 

Ui  ■ 

ji|| 

i^Il^^'    "-^ 

fiil 

ffljlljl; 

.■rt  ■ 

■  i; 


This  was  a  moment  for  despair ;  but,  the  next, 
a  rani  woman,^  a  slave  of  M.  Langlade's,  becl^on- 
ed  to  me  to  follow  her.  She  brought  me  to  a  door, 
whid||  she  opeiK?d,  desiring  me  to  enter,  and  telling 
me  that  it  led  to  the  garret,  where  I  must  go  and 
conceal  myself.  I  joyfiUly  obeyed  her  directions ; 
aiid  she,  havii^  fol)oived  me  up  to  the  garret-door, 
locked  it  i^er  me,  and  with  great  presence  of  mind 
took  away  the  key. 

Tbis  shelter  cdstaiiied,  if  shelter  I  could  hope  to 
find  it,  I  was  naturally  anxious  to  know  what  might 
still  be  passing  without  Through  an  aperture, 
which  afford^  me  a  view  of  the  area  of  the  fort,  I 
beheld,  in  shapes  tlie  foulest  and  most  terrible,  the 
ferocious  triumphs  of  barbarian  conquerors.  The 
dead  were  scalped  and  mangled  ;  the  dying  were 
writhing  and  shrieking,  under  the  unsatiat^d  knife 
and  tomahawk  ;    and,  from  the  bodies  of  some, 

*The  Pnnies  are  oil  Indian  iiAtion  of  the  south 


■■1.;  i.IJJi      ;l; 
;  itWiiiif}.''    II 


*' 


Mf 


^63,} 


ADVENTURES. 


4 

Si 


ripped  open,  their  butchen  were  drinking  liiflribod, 
scooped  up  in  the  hollow  of  joined  hands,  and 
quaffed  unid  shouts  of  rage  and  victory.  I  was 
shaken,  not  only  with  horror^  but  with  fti^.  The 
sufferings  which  I  witnessed,  I  seemed  on  the  point 
c»f  experiencing.  No  long  time  elapsed,  before  eve* 
ly  one  being  destroyed,  who  could  be  found,  there 
was  a  general  cry,  of  "All  is  finished!"  At  the  same 
instant,  I  heard  some  of  the  Indians  enter  the  house 
in  which  I  was. 


The  garret  was  separated  from  the  room  belpw, 
only  by  a  layer  of  single  boards,  at  once  the  flooring 
of  the  one  and  the  ceiling  of  the  other.  I  could 
therefore  hear  every  thing  that  passed  ;  and,  thr 
Indians  no  sooner  came  in,  than  they  inquired, 
whether  or  not  any  Englishman  were  in  the  house? 
M.  Langlade  replied,  that  "  He  could  not  say — he 
"  did  not  know  of  wiy  ;" — answers  in  which  he 
did  not  exceed  the  tru&  ;  for  the  Pani  woman  had 
not  only  hidden  roe  by  stealth,  but  kept  my  secret, 
and  her  own.  M.  Langlade  was  therefore,  as  I  pre- 
sume, as  far  from  a  wish  to  destroy  me,  as  he  was 
careless  about  saving  me,  when  he  added  to  these 
answers,  that  "They  might  examine  for  them. 
"  selves,  and  would  soon  be  satisfied,  as  to  the  ob- 
"  ject  of  their  question."  Saying  this,  he  brought 
them  to  the  garret-door. 

11 


TRAVELS  AND 


CA.D. 


i'i 


^4" 


m 


m 


WMll' 


'm 


!i,ii;ii 


tiji     IM 


f  ill  III 


lilt  state  of  my  mind  will  be  imagined.  Arrived 
at  the  door»  some  delay  was  occasioned  by  the  ab« 
sence  of  the  key,  and  a  few  moments  were  thus 
allowed  me,  in  which  to  look  around  for  a  hi- 
ding.place.  In  one  comer  of  the  garret'was  a  heap 
of  those  vessels  of  birch-bark,  used  in  m]4>le^sugar 
making,  as  I  have  recently  described. 

The  door  was  unlocked,  and  opening,  and  the 
Indians  ascending  the  stairs,  before  I  had  complete- 
ly crept  into  a  small  opening,  which  presented 
itself,  at  one  end  of  the  heap.  An  instant  after, 
four  Indians  entered  the  room,  all  armed  with  toma- 
hawks, and  all  besmeared  with  blood,  upon  every 
part  of  their  bodies. 

The  die  appeared  to  be  cast.  I  could  scarcely 
breathe;  but  I  thought  that  the  throbbing  of  my 

^^^Mart  occasioned  a  noise  loud  enough  to  betray  me. 
The  Indians  walked  in  every  direction  about  the 
garret,  and  one  of  them  approached  me  so  closely 
thatat  a  particularmoment, hadheputforth  his  hand, 
he  must  have  touched  me.     Still,  I  remained  un- 

^discovered  ;  a  circumstance  to  which  the  dark  co- 
lour of  my  clothes,  and  the  want  of  light,  in  a  room 
which  had  no  window,  and  in  the  comer  in  which 
I  was,  must  have  contributed.  In  a  word,  after 
taking  several  turns  in  the  room,  during  which  the} 


m 


m 


1763.] 


ADVENTURED 


83 


toldM.  Lang^e  how  many  they  had  killed,  andhow 
many  scalps  they  had  taken,  they  returned  down 
stairs,  and  I,  with  sensations  not  to  be  expressed, 
heard  the  door,  which  was  the  barrier  between  me 
and  my  fate,  locked  for  the  second  time. 

There  was  a  feather-bed  on  the  floor ;  and,  on 
this,  exhausted  as  I  was,  by  the  agitation  of  ruy 
mind,  I  threw  myself  down  and  fell  asleep.  In 
this  state  I  remained  till  the  dusk  of  the  evening, 
when  I  was  awakened  by  a  second  opening  of  the 
door.  The  person^*  that  now  entered,  was  M. 
Langlade's  wife,  who  was  much  surprised  at  find- 
ing me,  but  advised  me  not  to  be  uneasy,  observ- 
ing, that  the  Indians  had  killed  most  of  the  English, 
but  that  she  hoped  I  might  myself^  escape.-— A 
shower  of  rain  having  b^gun  to  fall,  she  had  come 
to  stop  a  hole  ifi  the^itxjf^  ^On  her  going  away,  I 
begged  her  to  send  me;  a  Bttlc  water,  to 
which  she  did. 


^-s4 


As  night  was  now  advancing,  I  continued  to  lie 
on  the  bed,  ruminating  on  my  condition,  but  una- 
ble to  discover  a  resource,  from  which  I  could 
hope  for  life.  A  flight,  to  Detroit,  had  no  pro- 
bable chance  of  success.  The  distance,  from 
Michilimackinac,  was  four  hundred  miles  ;  I  was 
without  provisions  ;  and  the  whole  Icngtli  of  th(^ 
road  lay  through  Indian  countries,  countries  of  an 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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£  IS   12.0 


11.25  IIU  1.4 


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vl 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  US80 

(716)  873-4503 


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J 


\\ 


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V- 


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84 


TRAVELS,  Scfc. 


1763.] 


*  cncimy"  in  irrhSj  where  the  first  ftian  whom  I 
should  meet  would  kill  me.  To  stay  where  I  was, 
threatened  nearfy  the  same  issue.  As  before,  fa- 
tigue of  mind,  and  not  tranquUlity,  suspended  mjr 
cares,  and  procured  me  further  sleep. 


%'*> 


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..# 


i 


I 


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f*.- 


.^■•'ir,    =♦ 


•*» 


V 


CHAPTER  X. 

Means  by  which  the  capture  of  the  Fort  was  ac- 
complished. Author  is  betrayed-^surrenders 
himself  to  Wenniway^  a  Chipeway  Chief^and  is 
spared — escapes  from  an  Indian^  who  treache- 
rously attempts  his  destruction.  Sordid  inhu- 
manity  of  M,  Langlade,  Author  is  embarkedy 
with  other  captives^  for  the  Isles  du  Cdl^or,  in 
Lake  Michigan, 


THE  game  of  baggatiway,  as  from  the  descrip- 
tion above  will  have  been  perceived,  is  necessarily 
attended  with  much  violencci^^ahd  noise.  In  the 
ardour  of  contest,  tiie  ball,  to  liibi  been  suggested!, 
if  it  cannot  be  thfdWil  «di1tegoal  de^red,  is  struck  in 
any  direction  by  which  it  can  be  diverted  from  that 
designed  l^  the  Adversary.  At  such  a  moment, 
therefore,  nothing  could  be  less  liable  to  excite 
premature  alarm,  than  that  the  ball  should  be  toss- 
ed  over  the  pickets  of  the  fort,  nor  that  Having 
fallen  there,  it  should  be  followed,  on  the  instant, 
by  all  engaged  in  the  game,  as  well  the  one  party 
as  the  other,  all  ^ager,  all  struggling,  all  touting,  all 
in  the  unrestrained  pursuit  of  a  rude  athletic  exer- 


■',  .111";'' 


'f!i 


I'M 


f, 


JhM 


■:!:i 


i!' 


$ 


I'iHf- 


;!!     ■^li 


<lill| 


'!Wi  i 


lljii'-'llii'. 


'ilili! 


86 


TRAVELS  AND 


tA.  D. 


cise.  Nothing  could  be  less  fitted  to  excite  prema- 
ture alarm — nothing,  therefore,  could  be  more  hap- 
pily devised,  under  the  circumstances,  than  a  stra- 
tagem like  this ;  and  this  was,  in  fact,  the  stratagem 
which  the  Indians  had  employed,  by  wliich  they 
had  obtained  possession  of  the  fort,  and  by  which 
they  had  been  enabled  to  slaughter  and  subdue 
its  garrison,  and  such  of  its  other  inhabitants  as 
^y  pleased.  To  be  still  more  certain  of  success, 
they  had  prevailed  upon  as  many  as  they  could>  by 
.-#  a  pretext  the  least  liable  to  suspicion,  to  come  volun- 
tarily without  the  pickets  ;  and  particularly  the 
comn||ndant  atid  garrison  themselves. 

The  respite  which  sleep  afforded  me,  during  the 
night,  was  put  an  end  to  by  the  return  of  morning. 
I  was  again  on  the  rack  of  apprehension.  At  sun- 
rise, I  heard  the  family  stirring ;  and,  presently 
after,  Indian  voices,  informing  M.  Langlade  that 
they  had  not  found  my  hapless  self  among  the 
dead,  and  that  they  supposed  me  to  be  somewhere 
concealed.  M.  Langlade  appeared,  from  what  fol- 
lowed, to  be,  by  this  time,  acquainted  with  the 
place  of  my  retreat,  of  which,  no  doubt,  he  had  been 
informed  by  his  wife.  The  poor  woman,  as  sooii 
as  the  Indians  mentioned  me  declared  to  her  hus- 
band, in  the  French  tongue,  that  he  should  no 
longer  keep  me  in  his  house,  but  deliver  me  up  to 
my  pursuers  ;  giving  as  a  reason  for  this  measure, 


1763.] 


ADVENTURES. 


m 


that  should  the  Indians  discover  his  instrumentality 
in  my  concealment,  they  might  revenge  it  on  her 
children,  and  that  it  was  better  that  I  should  die, 
than  they.  M.  Langlade  resisted,  at  firs^,  this  seir- 
tence  of  his  wife's  ;  but  soon  suffered  her  to  pre- 
vail, informing  the  Indians  fnat  he  had  been  told 
I  was  in  his  house,  that  I  had  come  there  with- 
out his  knowledge,  and  that  he  would  put  me  into 
their  hands.  This  was  no  sooner  expressed  than 
he  began  to  ascend  the  stairs,  the  Indians  foUowmg 
upoQ  his  heels. 

I  now  resigned  myself  to  the  fate  with  which  I  wds 
menaced;  and  regarding  every  attempt  at  conceal- 
ment as  vain,  I  arose  from  the  bed,  and  presented 
myself  full  in  view,  to  the  Indians  who  were  enter- 
ing the  room.  They  were  all  in  a  state  of  intoxica- 
tion, and  entirely  naked,  except  about  the  middle. 
One  of  them,  named  Wenniway,  whom  I  had  pi^*" 
viously  known,  and  who  was  upward  of  six  feet  iti 
height,  had  his  entire  face  and  body  covered  with 
charcoal  and  grease,  only  that  a  wliite  spot,  of  twp 
inches  in  diameter,  encircled  either  eye.  This  man, 
walking  up  to  me,  seized  me,  with  one  hand,  by 
the  collar  of  the  coat,  while  in  the  other  he  held  a 
large  caiving-knife,  as  if  to  plunge  it  into  my 
breast ;  his  eyes,  meanwhile,  were  fixed  stedfast- 
ly  on  mine.  At  length,  after  some  seconds,, 
of  the   most  anxious  suspense,   he  drc^ped  his 


%■ 


MJ;!';  '/j^ 

|ji. 

W:'M 

'■  ';■.« 

>\  T*] 

ij,1  '4,    '}  ] 

1 

',l2  .  ■ 

'1 '(■.'■     , 

1^  ■■■" 

■it.'     '.^ 

-t:: 

4. 

>t 

"11     . 


,;*'•■ 


i 


'"'■'-    '■  ""I'll  'P 


i'i:  I! 


'l: 


88 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


arm,  saying,  *M  won't  kill  you!" — To  this  he 
added,  that  he  had  been  frequently  engaged  in  wars 
against  the  English,  and  had  brought  away  many 
scalps ;  thgt,  on  g  certain  occasion,  he  had  lost  a 
brother,  whose  name  was  Mus'jiigon,  and  that  I 
should  be  called  after  him. 

A.reprieve,  upon  any  terms,  placed  me  among 
the  living,  and  gave  me  back  the  sustaining  voice 
of  hope  ;  but  Weriniway  ordered  me  down  stairs, 
and  there  informing  me  that  I  was  to  be  taken 
to  his  cabin,  where,  and  indeed  every  where  else, 
the  Indians  were  all  mad  with  liquor,  death  again 
was  threatened,  and  not  as  possible  only,  but  as 
certain.  I  mentioned  my  fears  on  this  subject  to 
M.  Langlade,  begging  him  to  represent  the  danger 
to  my  master.  M,  Langlade,  in  this  instance, 
did  riot  withhold  his  compassion,  and  Wenniway 
imiifiediately  consented  that  I  should  remain  where 
I  was,  until  he  found  another  opportunity  to  take 
me  away. 

Thus  far  secure,  I  re-ascended  my  garret-stairs, 
in  order  to  place  myself,  tlie  furthest  possible, 
out  of  the  reach  of  insult  from  drunken  Indians  ; 
but,  I  had  not  remained  there  more  than  an  hour, 
when  I  was  called  to  the  room  below,  in  which 
was  an  Indian,  who  '.aid  that  I  must  go  with  him 
out  of  the  fort,  Wenniway  having  sent  him  to  fetch 


ires.} 


ADVENTURES, 


85) 


me.  This  mail,  as  well  aii  Wenniway  himself,  I 
had  seen  before.  In  tH^  preceding  yeai*,  I  had  al- 
lowed him  to  take  goods  on  credit,  for  wliich  he 
was  still  in  my  debt  j  and  some  short  time  previ- 
ous to  the  surprise  of  the  fort  he  had  said,  upon  my 
upbraiding  him  with  want  of  honesty,  that  "  He 
"  would  pay  me  before  long !" — This  speech  now 
came  fresh  into  my  memory,  and  led  me  to  sus|)ect 
that  the  fellow  had  formed  a  design  against  m]|/; 
life.  I  communicated  the  suspicion  to  M.  Lan- 
glade ;  but  he  gave  for  answer,  that  "  I  was  not 
^*  now  my  own  master,  and  must  do  as  I  was 
"  ordered." 

» 

The  Indian,  on  his  part,  directed,  that  before  1 
hh  the  house,  I  should  undress  myself,  declaring 
that  my  coat  and  shirt  would  become  him  better 
than  they  did  me.  His  pleasure,  in  this  respect^ 
being  complied  with,  no  other  alternative  was  left 
me  than  either  to  go  out  naked,  or  to  put  on  the 
clothes  of  the  Indian,  which  he  freely  gave  me  in 
exchange.  His  motive,  for  thus  stripping  me  of 
my  own  apparel,  was  no  other,  as  I  afterward  learned, 
than  this,  that  it  might  not  be  stained  with  blood 
when  he  should  Jcill  me. 


I  was  now  told  to  proceed;  and  my  driver  fol- 
lowed me  close,  until  I  had  passed  the  gate  of  the 
fort,  when  I  turned  toward  the  spot  where  I  knew 

the  Indians  to  be  encamped.     This,  however,  did 

^    12 


,'» 

!/'■  ;  ': 

,1       .  'i 


mm  I 


m  '* 


ipi'! 


IP)  i!^!!'' ,.,:>»;* 
Ill 


mm 


m 


90 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


^•■ 


not  suit  the  purpose  of  my  enemy,  who  seized 
me  by  the  arm,  and  drew  me  violently,  in  the 
opposite  direction,  to  the  distance  of  fifty  yards, 
above  the  fort.  Here,  finding  that  1  was  approach- 
ing the  bushes  and  sand-hills,  I  determined  to  pro. 
ceed  no  further,  but  told  the  Indian  that  I  believed 
he  meant  to  murder  me,  and  that  if  so,  he  might 
as  well  strike  whefe  I  was,  as  at  any  greater  dis- 
tance. He  replied,  with  coolness,  that  my  suspi« 
cions  were  just,  and  that  he  meant  to  pay  me,  in 
this  manner,  for  my  goods.  At  the  same  time,  he 
produced  a  knife,  and  held  me  in  a  position  to  re- 
ceive  the  intended  blow.  Both  this,  and  that  which 
followed,  were  necessarily  the  affair  of  a  mom€nt 
By  some  effort,  too  sudden  and  too  little  dependent 
on  thought,  to  be  explained  or  remembered,  I  was 
enabled  to  arrest  his  arm,  and  give  him  a  sudden 
push,  by  which  I  turned  him  from  me,  and  released 
myself  from  his  grasp.  This  was  no  sooner  done, 
tlian  I  ran  toward  the  fort,  with  all  the  swiftness 
in  my  power,  the  Indian  following  me,  and  I  ex. 
pecting  every  moment  to  feel  his  knife. — I  suc- 
ceeded in  my  flight ;  and,  on  entering  the  fort,  I 
3aw  Wenniway,  standing  in  the  midst  of.  the  area^ 
and  to  him  I  hastened  for  protection.  Wenniway 
desired  the  Indian  to  desist ;  but  the  latter  pur- 
sued  me  round  him,  making  several  strokes  at  me 
witli  his  knif^,  and  foamingi^t  the  mouth,  with  rage 
at  the  repeated  failure  of  his  purpose.  At  length, 
Wenniway  drew  near  to  M.Langlade's  hOuse; 


i763j 


ADVENTURES. 


91 


and,  the  door  being  open,  I  ran  into  it.  The 
Indian  followed  me  ;  but,  on  my  entering  the 
house,  h^  voluntarily  abandoned  the  pursuit. 

Preserved  so  often,  and  so  unexpectedly,  as  it 
had  now  been  my  lot  to  be,  I  returned  to  my  garret 
with  a  strong  inclination  to  believe,  that  through 
the  will  of  an  overruling  power,  no  Indian  enemy 
could  do  me  hurt ;  but,  new  trials,  as  I  believed, 
were  at  hand,  when,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
I  was  roused  from  sleep,  and  once  more  desired  to 
descend  the  stairs.  Not  less,  how^ever,  to  my 
satisfaction  than  surprise,  I  was  summoned  only 
to  meet  Major  Etherington,  Mr.  Bostvvick  and 
Lieutenant  Lesslie,  who  were  in  the  room  below. 

These  gentlemen  had  been  taken  prisoners,  while 
looking  at  the  game,  without  the  fort,  and  imme* 
diately  stripped  of  all  their  clothes.  They  were  now 
sent  into  the  fort,  under  the  charge  of  Canadians, 
because,  the  Indians  having  resolved  on  getting 
dnmk,  the  chiefs  were  apprehensive  that  they  would 
be  murdered,  if  they  continued  in  the  camp.— 
Lieutenaoit  Jemette  and  seventy  soldiers  had  been 
killed;  and  but  twenty  Englishmen,  including  sol- 
diers, were  still  alive.  These  were  all  within  the 
fort,  together  with  nearly  three  hundred  Cana- 
dians.* • 


ide's  h6use; 


Beloriging  to  the  canoes,  &c. 


r! 


i  (^        ! : 


1- 

i 

1 

'!■ :  i ;  I 


.^    > 


92 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


These  being  our  numbers,  myself  and  others 
proposed  to  Major  Etherington,  to  make  an  effort 
for  regaining  possession  of  the  fort,  and  maintain, 
ing  it  against  the  Indians.  The  Jesuit  missionary 
%vas  consulted  on  the  project ;  but  he  discouraged 
us,  by  his  representations,  not  only  of  the  merciless 
treatment  which  we  must  expect  from  the  Indians, 
should  they  regain  their  superiority,  but  of  the  little 
dependence  which  was  to  be  placed  upon  our  Ca- 
nadian auxiliaries.  Thus,  the  fort  and  prisoners 
remained  in  the  hands  of  the  Indians,  though,  through 
the  whole  night,  the  prisoners  and  whites  were 
in  actual  possession,  and  they  were  without  the 
gates. 

That  whole  night,  or  the  greater  part  of  it,  was 
passed  in  mutual  condolence  ;  and  my  fellow-pri* 
soners  shared  my  garret.  In  the  morning,  being 
again  called  down,  I  found  my  master,  Wenniway, 
and  was  desired  to  follow  him.  He  led  me  to  a 
small  house,  within  the  fort,  where,  in  a  narrow 
room,  and  almost  dark,  I  found  Mr.  Ezekiel  Solo- 
mons,  an  Englishman  froln  Detroit,  and  a  soldier, 
all  prisoners.  With  these,  I  remained  in  painful 
suspense,  as  to  the  scene  that  was  next  to  present 
itself,  till  tea  o'clock,  in  the  forenoon,  when  an  Id- 
dian  arrived,  and  presently  marched  us  to  the  lake- 
side, where  a  canoe  appeared  ready  for  departure, 
and  in  which  we  found  that  we  were  to  embark. 


1763.] 


ADVENTURES, 


ftS 


Our  voyage,  full  of  doubt  as  it  was,  would  have 
commenced  immediately,  but  that  one  of  the  In- 
dians, who  was  to  be  r^  the  party,  was  absent.  His 
arrival  was  to  be  waited  for ;  and  this  occasioned  a 
very  long  delay,  during  which  we  were  exposed 
to  a  keen  north-east  wind.  An  old  shirt  was  all  that 
covered  me ;  I  suffered  much  from  the  cold ;  and, 
in  this  extremity,  M.  Langlade  coming  down  to 
the  beach,  I  asked  him  for  a  blanket,  promising,  if 
I  lived,  to  pay  him  for  it,  at  any  price  he  pleased  : 
but,  the  answer  I  received  was  this,  that  he  could 
let  me  have  no  blanket,  unless  there  were  some  one 
tp  be  security  for  the  payment.  For  myself,  he  ob- 
served, I  had  no  longer  any  property  in  that  coun- 
try.— I  had  no  more  to  say  to  M.  Langlade ;  but, 
presently  seeing  another  Canadian,  named  John 
Cuchoise,  I  addressed  to  him  a  similar  request,  and 
was  not  refused.  Naked  as  I  was,  and  rigorous  as 
was  the  weather,  but  for  the  blanket,  I  must  have  pe- 
rished.—At  noon,  our  party  was  all  collected,  the 
prisoners  all  embarked,  and  we  step  red  for  the  Isles 
du  Castor,  in  Lake  Michigan. 


vV 


ri:f^^ 


'.^ 


M 


im'Vi^ 


fit  11' I" 


:  'H  lii! 


I 


I         !^ 


:.'i!!li. 


'ili'li'fHW*':;' 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Author  and  fellow-prisoners  rescued^  by  the  Otawas 
of  VArbre  Crochc — relanded  at  Michilimacki- 
nac-^restored  to  the  ChipewayS'-^lodged  with 
other  prisoners*  Author  sees  and  is  recogtiised  by 
ffawatam. 

THE  soldier,  who  was  our  companion  in  mife. 
totune,  was  made  fast  to  a  bar  of  the  canoe,  by  a 
rope  tied  round  his  neck,  as  is  the  manner  of  die 
Indians,  in  transporting  their  prisoners.  The  rest 
were  left  unconfined  ;  but  a  paddle  was  put  into 
each  of  our  hands,  and  we  were  made  to  use  it. 
The  Indians  in  the  canoe  were  seven  in  number ; 
the  prisoners  four.  I  had  left,  as  it  will  be  recoK 
lected,  Major  Etherington,  Lieutenant  Lesslie  and 
Mr.  Bostwick,  at  M.  Langlade's,  and  was  now 
joined  in  misery  with  Mr.  Ezekiel  Solomons,  the 
soldier,  and  the  Englishman  who  had  newly  arrived 
from  Detroit.  This  was  on  the  sixth  day  of  June. 
Tlie  fort  was  taken  on  the  fourth  ;  I  surrendered 
myself  to  Wenniway  on  the  fifth  ;  and  this  was  the 
third  day  of  our  distress. 


'^■, 


1763.] 


TRAVELS,  «c. 


95 


We  were  bound,  as  I  have  said,  for  the  Isles 
du  Castor,  whic  li  lie  in  the  mouth  of  Lake  Mi- 
chigan ;  and  we  should  have  crossed  the  lake,  but 
that  a  thick  fog  came  on,  on  account  of  which  the 
Indians  deemed  it  safer  to  keep  the  shore  close  un* 
der  their  lee.  We  therefore  approached  die  lands  of 
the  Otawas,  and  their  village  of  L' Arbre  Croche,  al- 
ready mentioned  as  lying  about  twenty  miles  to  the 
westward  of  Michilimackinac,  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  tongue  of  land  on  which  the  fort  is  built. 

Every  half  hour,  the  Indians  gave  their  war^ 
whoops,  one  for  every  prisoner  in  their  canoe.  This 
Is  a  general  custom,  by  the  aid  of  which  all  other 
Indians,  within  hearing,  are  apprized  of  the  nun)|^r 
of  prisoners  they  are  carrying. 

In  this  manner,  we  reached  Wagoshense,*  ii 
K>ng  point,  stretching  westward  into  the  lake,  and 
which  the  Otawas  make  a  carrying-place,  to 
avoid  going  round  it.  It  is  distant  eighteen 
miles  from  Michilimackinac.  After  the  Indians 
had  made  their  war- whoop,  as  before,  an  Otawa 
appeared  upon  the  beach,  who  made  signs  that  we 
should  land.  In  consequence,  we  approached- 
The  Otawa  asked  the  news,  and  kept  die  Chipe- 
ways  in  further  conversation,  till  we  were  within  a 
ftw  yards  of  the  land,  and  in  shallow  water.     At 


mt\ 


tr 


Ifii  ;-'J 


•:.  Mi's 


*  i.  c.  Fo'S-point. 


^.?* 


ic, , 


Bf  ■ '' ' 

W-"' 

mjj,;  ■'  '  ■ 

'^\  \  ■' 

r! 


I ,.( 


m'ii- 


96 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  P. 


this  moment,  a  hundred  men  rushed  upon  us,  from 
among  the  bushes,  and  dra^;ed  all  the  prip  oners 
out  of  the  canoes,  amid  a  terrifying  shout. 

We  now  believed  that  our  last  sufferings  were 
approaching  ;  but,  no  sooner  were  we  fairly 
on  shore,  and  on  our  legs,  than  the  chiefs  of  the 
party  advanced,  and  gave  each  of  us  their  hands, 
telling  us  that  they  were  our  friends,  and  Otawas, 
whom  the  Chipeways  had  insulted,  by  destroying 
die  English  without  consulting  with  them  on  the 
afl^ir.  They  added,  that  what  they  had  done  was 
for  the  purpose  of  saving  our  lives,  the  Chipeways 
having  been  carrying  us  to  the  Isles  du  Castor  onlf 
to  ^1  and  devour  us. 


'i'  ji  I 


1 


b'MuU 


The  reader's  imagination  is  here  distracted  by 
the  variety  of  our  fortunes,  and  he  may  well  paint  to 
himself  the  state  of  mind  of  those  who  sustained 
them ;  who  were  the  sport,  or  the  victims,  of  a  series 
of  events,  more  like  dreams  than  realties,  more  like 
fiction  than  truth !  It  was  not  long  before  we  were 
embarked  again,  in  the  canoes  of  the  Otawas,  who, 
the  same  evening,  relanded  us  at  Michilimackinac, 
where  they  marched  us  into  the  fort,  in  view  of  the 
Chipeways,  confounded  at  beholding  the  Otawas 
es^oujse  a  side  opposite  to  their  own. 

The  Otsawas,  who  had  accompanied  us  in  suffi- 
cient numbers,  took  possession  of  the  fort.     We, 

t  ■■■  -■■-■ 


.^' 


ir^3.] 


ia>VENtUR|iSi. 


ar 


Yfhp  h^d  ohangc^d  masters,  but  were  still  prisonerQ, 
i^ere  JMIgiExl  'm  the  house  of  the  command^ti  an(l 
strictly  guided. 


H 


Early  the  next  moming,  a  general  council  was 
held,  in  which  the  Chipcways  complained  much  of 
the  conduct  of  the  Qtawas,  in  robbing  them  of  their 
prisoners  ;  sieging  that  all  the  Indians,  the  Ota- 
was  alone  excepted,  were  at  war  with  the  English ; 
that  Pontiac  had  taken  Detroit ;  that  the  king  of 
Fr^ce  had  awoke,  and  repossessed  himself  of 
Quebec  and  Montreal ;  and  that  tl^e  English  were 
meeting  destruction,  not  only  at  Michilimackinac, 
b^t  in  every  other  part  of  the  world.  Froirn  all 
fljs  they  inferred,  that  it  became  the  Otawas  to  re- 
store the  prisoners,  and  to  join  in  the  war ;  and  the 
speech  was  followed  by  large  presents,  being  part 
of  the  plunder  of  the  fort,  and  which  was  previously 
heaped  in  the  c^tre  of  the  room.— The  Indians 
rarely  make  the;r  answers  till  the  day  after  they 
have  hesird  the  arguments  offered.  They  did  not 
dep^  from  their  custom  on  this  occasion ;  and  the 
council  therefore  adjourned. 

^,^e,  the  prisoners,  whose  fate  was  thus  in  con- 
troversy, were  unacquainted,  at  the  time,  with 
this  transaction  ;  and  therefore  enjoyed  a  night 
of  tolerable  tranquillity,  not  in  the  least  sus- 
pecting the  reverse  which  was  preparing  for  us. 

Which  of  the  arguments  of  the  Chipeways,  or  whe- 

13 


!v:-'':i;  fi^:!-% 


m 


M!':„   'li 


!i  fl 


I!     .ii 


1-  !,:':.. 


i''.    •  '■!• 


:^':|| 


98 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


ther  or  not  all  were  deemed  valid  by  the  Otawas, 
I  cannot  say;  but,  the  council  was  resumed  at 
an  early  hour  in  the  morning,  and,  after  several 
speeches  had  been  made  in  it,  the  prisoners  were 
sent  for,  and  returned  to  the  Chipewa3rs. 

The  Otawas,  who  now  gave  us  into  the  hands  of 
the  Chipeways,  had  themselves  declared,  that  the 
latter  designed  no  other  than  to  kill  us,  and  make 
broth  of  us.  The  Chipeways,  as  soon  as  we  were 
restored  to  them,  marched  us  to  a  village  of  their 
own,  situate  on  the  point  which  is  below  the 
fort,  and  put  us  into  a  lodge,  already  the  prison 
of  fourteen  soldiers,  tied  two  atid  two,  w^ 
each  a  rope  about  his  neck,  and  made  fast  taa 
pole  which  might  be  called  the  supporter  of  the 
building, 

I  was  left  untied ;  but  I  passed  a  night  sleepless 
and  full  of  wretchedness.  My  bed  was  the  bare 
ground,  and  I  was  again  reduced  to  an  old  shirt,  as 
my  entire  apparel ;  the  blanket  which  I  had  received, 
through  the  generosity  of  M.  Cuchoise,  having 
been  taken  from  me  among  the  Otawas,  when  they 
seized  upon  myself  and  the  others,  at  Wagoshense. 
I  was,  besides,  in  want  of  food,  having  for  two  days 
ate  nothing.  \ 

I  confess  that  in  the  canoe,  with  the  Chipeways, 
I   was   offered    bread— -but,   bread,    with   what 


iN!''i'i'li'p-^  1%: 


ires.] 


ADVENTURES. 


n 


tccompaniment! — They  had  a  loaf,  which  they  cut 
with  the  same  knives  that  they  had  employed  in 
the  massacre— knives  still  covered  with  blopd. 
The  blood,  they  moistened  with  spittle,  and 
rubbing  it  on  the  bread,  offered  this  for  food  to  their 
prisoners,  telling  them  to  eat  the  blood  of  their 
countrymen. 

Such  was  my  situation,  on  the  morning  of  the 
seventh  of  June,  in  the  year  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  sixty-three  ;  but,  a  few  hours  produ- 
ced an  event  oivhich  gave  still  a  new  colour  to 
my  lot. 

Toward  noon,  when  the  great  war-chief,  in  com- 
pany with  Wenniway,  was  seated  at  the  opposite 
end  of  the  lodge,  my  friend  and  brother,  Wawatam, 
suddenly  came  in.  During  the  four  days  prece- 
ding, I  had  often  wondered  what  had  become 
of  him.  In  passing  by,  he  gave  me  his  hand, 
but  went  immediateljr  toward  the  great  chief,  by 
the  side  of  whom  and  Wenniway,  he  sat  himself 
down.  The  most  uninterrupted  silence  prevailed ; 
each  smoked  his  pipe;  and  this  done,  Wawatam 
arose,  and  left  the  lodge,  saying,  to  me,  as  he  pass- 
ed, **  Take  courage !" 


I 


■# 


# 


■rt! 


'I*  1  i 


iM!M,il|.i;| 


:'        lU! 


i    I 


|l|j 


!    'I 


I)  I, 


;;fii 


v:rL  ........  ■.-cBAPtteR  XII.  -.-'-^^f 

Indian  Council.     Speech  of  JFawatam,     Spaeth  of 

Menekwehna,     JVawatam  obtains  the  Author^s 

fieedom^  and  carHes  him  to  his  own  lodge.  Seven 

prisonefrs  killed.     A  war-feUst  dn  htMian  fitsh. 

Messages  of  invitdtibn.     English  ckrioe  ari^eis 

Jrdm  MoritrM'-^phindered,  and  passeHgeris  made 

prisoners.      Fate  of  the  Garrison  and  ErigHsh 

Traders,  who  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians^ 

nt  Michilimackinac,  •     '       '■ 

«  ,jf 

;        ■  -.1-    ^,11"  Jf  -   ■    . 

J      '  ,      '  _  ,  ,  .     ■  !  r    '<     *  f  S  .■       .  .        ^     >  -I  , 

AN  hbtir  daps6d,  during  which  Several  chiefs 
entefed,  and  preparations  iippeared  to  betiuJcing 
for  a  council.  At  length,  Wawatam  re-ent*e4thfe 
lodge,  followed  by  hi^  wife,  and  both  loaded  witih 
mierchandize,  which  they  carried  up  to  the  chiefs, 
and  laid  in  a  heap  before  them.  Some  'moments  of 
silence  followed,  at  the  eftd  of  ivhich  Wawatam 
pronounced  a  speech,  every  word  of  whibh,  to  me, 
was  of  extraordinary  interest :  >■  t^rfii'i' 1  r 
*      '   ■ 

"  Friends  and  relations,'*  he  began,  "  what  is  it 
"  that  I  shall  say  ?  You  know  what  I  feel.  You 
"  all  have  friends  and  brothers  and  children,  whom 
'*  as  yourselves  you  love;  and  you — what  would 


1763.] 


TRAVELS,  8cG. 


101 


*^  you  experience,  <lidlyou,  like  me,  behold  y6ur 
**  dearestfriend-^yoiir  brother— in  the  condition  of 
**  a  slave ;  a  slave,  exposed  every  moment  to  in- 
"  s<!ilt,  and  to  menaces  of  death  ?  This  case,  as  you 
"  all  kn^^  is  mine.  Sefe  th<bre  (pointing  to  myself) 
**  my  friend  and  brother  among  slaves — himself  a 
"  slave ! 


It 


•*  You  all  weM  know,  that  long  before  the  war 
begafn,  i  adoj^dlnm  as  my  brofho*.  From  that 
moment,  he  became  one  of  my  family,  so  that 
no  change  of  circumstances  could  break  the  cord 
which  fastened,  us  together.  * 


« 

u 

it 

u 
it 

n 
(( 


**  He  Is  my  brother ;  and,  because  I  am  your 
relation,  he  is  therefore  your  relation  too : — and 
how,  being  your  relation,  can  he  be  your  slave  ? 

"  On  the  day,  on  which  the  war  began,  you  were 
fearfol,  lest,  on  this  very  account,  I  should  reveal 
)^i<r  secret.  You  requested,  therefore,  that  I 
would  leave  the  fort,  and  even  cross  the  lake.  I 
did  «o  ;  but  I  did  it  with  reluctance.  I  did  it 
With  reluctance,  notwithstanding  that  you,  Me- 
iiehwcfhna,  who  had  the  command  in  this  entcr- 
pTAsty  gave  me  your  promise  that  you  would  pro- 
tect my  friend,  delivering  him  from  all  danger, 
and  giving  him  safely  to  me. 


~^ 


102 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


"  The  performance  of  this  promise,  I  now  claim. 

"  I  come  not  with  empty  hands  to  ask  it.     You, 

"  Menehwehna,  best  know,  whether  or  not,  as  it 
respects  yourself,  you  have  kept  your  word ;  but 
I  bring  these  goods,  to  buy  off  every  claim  which 

**  any  man  among  you  all  may  have  on  my  bro- 

**  ther,  as  his  prisoner." 


tt 


<« 


.;!'!; 


C    !''ii  I-'' 


I   'U'^ 


mi: 


•t 


iHr 


!i'^-i 'iijii-:''   ■ 


■';  Hit 


Wawatam  having  ceased,  the  pipes  were  agsun 
filled ;  and,  after  they  were  finished,  a  further  pe. 
riod  of  silence  followed.  At  the  end  of  this,  Me- 
nehwehna  arose,  and  gave  his  reply : 

.»  ■ 

"  My  relation  and  brother,"  ssad  he,  **  what  you 
"  have  spoken  is  the  truth.  We  were  acquainted 
*' with  the  friendship  which  subsisted  between 
'*  yourself  and  the  Englishman,  in  whose  behalf 
"  you  have  now  addressed  us.  We  knew  the 
"danger  of  having  our  secret  discovered,  and 
**  the  consequences  which  must  follow ;  and  you 
"  say  truly,  that  we  requested  you  to  leave  the 
"  fort.  This  we  did,  out  of  regard  for  you  and 
**  your  family  ;  for,  if  a  discovery  of  our  design 
"  had  been  made,  you  would  have  been  blamed, 
"  whether  guilty  or  not ;  and  you  would  thus  have 
'*  been  involved  in  difficulties  from  which  you 
"  could  not  have  extricated  yourself. 

"  It  is  also  true,  that  I  promised  you  to  take  care 
**  of  your  friend  ;  and  this  promise  I  performed, 


ires.] 


ADVENTURES. 


103 


« 
<« 

l< 
<< 

4< 
il 
tt 


by  desiring  my  son,  at  the  moment  of  assault,  to 
seek  him  out,  and  bring  him  to  my  lodge.  He 
went  accordingly,  but  could  not  find  him.  The 
day  after,  I  sent  him  to  Langlade's,  when  he  was 
informed  ttlat  your  friend  was  safe;  and  had 
it  not  been  that  the  Indians  were  then  drink- 
ing the  rum  which  had  been  found  in  the  fort,  he 
would  have  brought  him  home  with  him,  accord- 
ing to  my  orders. 


*'  I  am  very  glad  to  find  that  your  friend  has 
"  escaped.  We  accept  your  present ;  and  you 
"  may  take  him  home  with  you."  « 

Wawatam  thanked  the  assembled  chiefs,  and 
taking  me  by  the  hand,  led  me  to  his  lodge,  which 
was  at  tlie  distance  of  a  few  yards  only  from 
the  prison-lodge.  My  entrance  appeared  to  give 
joy  to  the  whole  family ;  food  was  immediately  pre. 
pared  for  me ;  and  I  now  ate  the  first  hearty  meal 
which  I  had  made  since  my  capture.  I  found  my- 
self one  of  the  family ;  and  but  that  I  had  still  my 
fears,  as  to  the  other  Lidians,  I  felt  as  happy  as  the 
situation  could  allow. 


In  the  course  of  the  next  morning,  I  was  alarm- 
ed by  a  noise  in  the  prison-lodge  ;  and  looking 
through  the  openings  of  the  lodge  in  which  I  was, 
I  saw  seven  dead  bodies  of  white  men  dragged 
forth.     Upon  my  inquiry  into  the  occasion7 1  was 


■ml-    i^'. ■'■  ■'• 


Ijiiii 


104  TRAVELS  AND  |At  P. 

uifprmed,  that  a  certain  chief,,, callq^,  by  the,  ,C<i|i». 
dians^  Le  Grand  Sable,  had  not  |ong  li^efor^  ajEriyed 
from  his  wii^ter's  hunt;  and  tl^t  he,l)aji(ing  be^n  ab. 
sent  when  the  war  begun,  an4  !t>eing|io>v  desirpue 
of  manifesting  to  the  IndisMi|9  atlafge,  his  l^eajrty 
concurrence  in  what  they  had  done,  had  gone  ipto 
the  prison-lodge,  an4  there,  with  his  knife,  put  the 
seven  men,  wiiose  bodies  I  had  seen,  to  4cath* 


l';l':i'U.i 


I'!m;  W 


n''i;  a!  : !    i 


.;'  :':! 


m 


m 


;:;< 


Ki:  I- 


|hi,|  ijlji  I;::::.'"!!!!':;!!'' 


'1 


m 


it" 


fiil 


II  if  * 


■l-i 


"ill    >' . 


Shortly  after,  two  of  the  Indians  took  one  of  the 
dead  bodies,  which  they  chose  as  being  the  fattest, 
cut  off  the  head,  and  divided  the  whole  into  five 
parts,  one  of  which  was  put  into  each  of  five  kettles, 
hung  over  as  many  fires,  kindled  for  this  purpose,  at 
the  door  of  the  prison-lodge.  Soon  after  things  were 
so  far  prepared,  a  message  came  to  our  lodge,  wttli 
an  invitation  to  Wawatam,  to  assbt  at  the  feast. 

:''■        '  '  ,      V  .'ill-'.         ;    , 

An  invitation  to  a  feast  is  given  by  him  who  is 
the  master  of  it.  Small  cuttings  of  cedar^wood,  of 
about  four  inches  in  length,  supply  the  place  of 
^iards ;  and  the  bearer,  by  word  of  mouth,  state? 
the  particulars.  ,; 

Wawatam  obeyed  the  summons,  taking  witli 
him,  as  is  usual,  to  the  place  of  entertainment,  his 
dish  and  spoon. 

After  an  absence  of  about  half^  an  hopr«  he.4^ 
turned,  bringing  in  his  dish  a  human  hand^  and 


1763.] 


ADVENTURES. 


105 


a  large  piece  of  flesh.  He  did  not  appear  to  relish 
the  repast,  but  told  me,  that  it  was  then,  and  always 
had  been  the  custom,  among  all  the  Indian  nations, 
when  returning  from  war,  or  on  overcoming  their 
enemies,  to  make  a  war-feast,  from  among  the 
sjain.  This,  he  said,  inspired  the  warrior  with 
courage  in  attack,  and  bred  him  to  meet  death  with 
fearlessness. 


In  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  a  large  canoe, 
such  as  those  which  came  from  Montreal,  was 
seen  advancing  to  the  fort.  It  was  full  of  men, 
and  I  distinguished  several  passengers.  The  In- 
dian cry  was  made  in  the  village ;  a  general  muster 
ordered ;  and,  to  the  number  of  two  hundred,  they 
marched  up  to  the  fort,  where  the  canoe  was  ex- 
pected to  land.  The  canoe,  suspecting  nothing, 
came  boldly  to  the  fort,  where  the  passengers,  as 
being  English  traders,  were  seized,  dragged  through 
the  water,  beat,  reviled,  marched  to  the  prison- 
lodge,  and  there  stripped  of  their  clothes,  and  con- 
fined. 


^i" 


Of  the  English  traders  that  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  Indians,  at  the  capture  of  the  fort,  Mr.  Tracy 
was  the  only  one  who  lost  his  life.  Mr.  Ezekiel 
Solomons  and  Mr.  Henry  Bostwick  were  taken 
by  the  Otawas,  and,  after  the  peace,  carried  don^ 
to  Montreal,  and  there  ransomed.  Of  ninety  troops, 

14. 


,.;.lr';i','". 


'iijM  ■ 


'i!:';'jl, 


;i  I' 


*•■ 


106 


TRAVELS,  kc. 


ir63.] 


about  seventy  were  killed ;  the  rest,  together  with 
those  of  the  posts  in  the  Bay  des  Puants,  and  at  the 
river  Saint-Joseph,  were  also  kept  in  safety  by  the 
Otawas,  till  the  peace,  and  then  either  freely  restored,  i 
JOT  ransomed  at  Montr6al.  The  Otawas  never  over. 
opufe  ihar  jdisgust,  at  the  neglect  with  which  they 
h^  been  treated,  in  the  beginning  of  the  war,  by 
those  who  afterward  desired  their  assistance  as| 
allies. 


^* 


K. 


k 


Mmlli  lU.illh     ill  in   hi  ::  ' 


o* 


"•Mi 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Indians  entertain  apprehensions  of  the  Mnglish-^re» 
solve  to  retire  to  the  Island  of  MichilimackinQC* 
A  gale  of  wind — and  Indians  sacrifice  a  Dog. 
Women  lament  at  the  burial-place  qf  RelationSp 
Land  on  the  Island,  Number  of  Warriors. 
Author  hid  by  Wawatam  in  a  cave — makes  a 
discovery  there,  Indian  explanations.  Indian 
sacrifices,  -      * 


IN  the  morning'  of  the  ninth  of  June,  a  general 
council  was  held,  at  which  it  was  agreed  to  remove 
to  the  island  of  Michilimackinac,  as  a  more  defen- 
sible situation,  in  the  event  of  an  attack  by  the  En- 
glish. The  Indians  had  begun  to  entertain  appre- 
hensions of  want  of  strength.  No  news  had  reach- 
ed them  from  the  Potawatamies,  in  the  Bay  des 
Puants  ;  and  they  were  uncertain  whether  or  not 
the  Monomins*  would  join  them.     They  even 


^l; 


*  Mano^iines,  or  Malomines.  In  the  first  syllable,  the 
subsdtution  of  /  for  n,<and  n  for  ly  marks  one  of  the  differen- 
ces in  the  Chipeway.  and  Algonquin  dialects. 

In  the  mouth  of  an  Algonquin,  it  is  McMUmackinac  ; 
in  that  of  a  Chipeway,  Michinimackinac, 


I'  h 


108 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


feared   that  the  Sioux  would  take   the  English 
side.  i 


I'l 


y'"! 


I    ' 


I'  I 


I  ii " 


This  resolution  fixed,  they  prepared  for  a  speedy 
retreat.  At  noon,  the  camp  was  broken  up,  and 
we  embarked,  taking  with  us  the  prisoners  that 
were  still  undisposed  of.  On  our  passage,  we  en- 
countered a  gale  of  windj  and  there  were  some  ap. 
pearances  of  danger.  To  avert  it,  a  dog,  of  which 
the  legs  were  previously  tied  together,  was  thrown 
into  the  lake  ;  an  offering  designed  to  soothe  the 
angry  passions  of  some  offended  Ma'ni'to'.    • 

As  we  approached  the  island,  two  women,  in  the 
canoe  in  which  I  was,  began  to  utter  melancholy 
and  hideous  cries.  Precarious  as  my  condi- 
tion still  remained,  I  experienced  some  sensations 
of  alai'm,  from  these  dismal  sounds,  of  which  I 
could  not  then  discover  the  occasion.  Subse- 
quently, I  learned,  that  it  is  customary  for  the  wo- 
men, on  passing  near  the  burial-places  of  relations, 
never  to  omit  the  practice  of  which  I  was  now  a 
witness,  and  by  which  they  intend  to  denote  their 
griefs 


^fe 


By  tlie  approach  of  evening,  we  reached  the 
island  in  safety,  arid  the  women  were  not  long  in 
erecting  bur  cabins.     In  the  morning,  tliere  was  a 

•  •  ■■'-        ■'!  ..'  ■;  ■    iA  . 


'iiii 


1763.] 


ADVENTURES. 


109^^ 


muster  of  the  Indians,  at  which  there  were  found 
three  hundred  and  fifty  fighting-men. 

In  the  course  of  the  day,  there  arrived  a  canoe 
from  Detroit,  with  ambassadors,  who  endeavoured 
to  prevail  on  the  Indians  to  repair  thither,  to  the 
assistance  of  Pontiac ;  but  fear  was  now  the  pre- 
vailing passion.  A  guard  was  kept  during  the  day, 
and  a  watch  by  night,  and  alarms  were  very  fre- 
queiitly  spread.  Had  an  enemy  appeared,*  all  the 
pris  jners  would  have  been  put  to  death ;  and  I  sus- 
pected, that  as  an  Englishman,  I  should  share 
their  fate. 

Several  days  had  now  passed,  when,  one  morn- 
ing, a  continued  alarm  prevailed,  and  I  saw  the 
Indians  running,  in  a  confused  manner,  toward  the 
beach.  In  a  short  time,  I  learned  that  two  large 
canoes,  from  Montr6al,  were  in  sight. 

All  the  Indian  canoes  were  immediately  manned, 
and  those  from  Montr6al  were  surrounded  and 
seized,  as  they  turned  a  point,,  behind  which 
the  flo^a  had  been  concealed.  The  goods  were 
consigned  to  a  Mr.  Levy,  and  would  have  been 
saved,  if  the  canoe-men  had  called  them  French 
property ;  but  they  were  terrified,  and  disguised 
nothing. 


'it:> 


110 


TRAVELS  AND 


tA.  D. 


m)"m 


Ii-H»ji! ' 


;iT 


ill 


J,     in  i   ';,!! 


f'K 


i,-'"<'    i: 


'  m 


liil 


I;;; ' 


111 


li! 


>  ■'    'i  ^'  ■  ¥       ' 


i:ifl 


-I 


In  the  canoes  was  a  large  proportion  of  liquor,  a 
dangerous  acquisition,  and  which  threatened  dis- 
turbance among  the  Indians,  even  to  the  loss  of 
their  dearest  friends.  Wawatam,  always  watchful 
of  my  safety,  no  sooner  heard  the  noise  of  drunken- 
ness, which,  in  tlie  evening,  did  not  fail  to  begin, 
than  he  represented  to  me  the  danger  of  remaining 
in  the  village,  and  owned  that  he  could  not  himself 
resist  the  temptation  of  joining  his  comrades  in  the 
debauch.  That  I  might  escape  all  mischief,  he 
therefore  requested  that  I  would  accompany  him  to 
the  mountain,  where  I  was  to  remain  hidden,  till 
the  liquor  should  be  drank. 

We  ascended  the  mountain  accordingly.  It  is 
this  mountain  which  constitutes  that  high  land,  in 
the  middle  of  the  island,  of  which  I  have  spoken 
before,  as  of  a  figure  considered  as  resembling  a 
turtky  and  therefore  called  michiHmackinac.  It  is 
thickly  covered  with  wood,  and  very  rocky  toward 
the  top.  After  walking  more  than  half  a  mile,  we 
came  to  a  large  rock,  at  the  base  of  which  was  an 
Opening,  <iark  within,  and  appearing  to  be  the  en- 
trance of  a  cave. 

Here,  Wawatam  recommended  that  I  should 
take  up  my  lodging,  and  by  all  means  remain  till 
he  returned 


MimMMt 


i.-i 


W 


/:  :,-■■'■■'  ^■•. 


1763.] 


ADVENTURES. 


Ill 


f  On  going  into  the  cave,  of  which  the  entrance 
was  nearly  ten  feet  wide,  I  found  the  further  end  to 
be.  rounded  in  its  shape,  like  that  of  an  oven,  but 
with  a  further  aperture,  too  smaU,  however,  to  be 
explored. 

After  thus  looking  around  me,  I  broke  small 
branches  from  the  trees,  and  spread  them  for  a  bed^ 
then  wrapped  myself  in  my  blanket,  and  slept  till 
day-break. 

On  awaking,  I  felt  myself  incommoded  by  some 
object,  upon  which  I  lay  ;  and,  removing  it,  foiind 
it  to  be  a  bone.  This  I  supposed  to  be  that  of  a 
deer  or  some  other  animal,  and  what  might  very 
naturally  be  looked  for,  in  the  place  in  which  I 
was  ;  but,  when  day-light  visited  my  chamber,  I 
discovered,  with  some  feelings  of  horror,  that  I  was 
lying  on  nothing  less  than  a  heap  of  human  bones' 
and  skulls,  which  covered  all  the  floor  ! 

The  day  passed  w^hout  the  return  of  Wawa- 
tam,  and  without  food.  As  night  approached,  I 
found,  myself  unable  to  meet  its  darkness  in  the 
charnel-house,  which,  nevertheless,  I  had  viewedfree 
from  uneasiness  during  the  day.  I  chose,  there- 
fore, an  adjacent  bush  for  this  night's  lodging,  and 
slept  under  it  as  before  ;  but,  in  the  momihg,  I 
awoke  hungry  and  dispirited,  and  almost  envying^ 


.»■•■ 


TRAVELS  j^D 


[A.D. 


mm'-^' 


!'  «;■ 


ill:- 


Vli   .' 


the  dry  bpnes,  to  the  view  of  which  I  retimied. 
At  length,  the  sound  of  a  foot  reached  me,  and  my 
Indian  friend  appeared,  making  many  apcdogies  for 
his  long  absence,  the  cause  of  which  was  an  un- 
fortunate excess  in  the  enjoyment  of  his  liquor. 

■  * 

This  point  being  explained,  I  mentioned  the 
..extraordinary  sight  that  had  presented  itself,  in 

the  cave  to  which  he  had  commended  my  slumbers. 

He  had  never  heard  of  its  existence  beHre ;  and, 

upon  examiningthecave  together,  we  saw  reason  to 
^believe  that  it  had  been  anciently  filled  with  human 

bodies. 

On  returning  to  the  lodge,  I  experienced  a  cor- 
dial reception  from  the  family,  which  consisted  of 
the  wife  of  my  friend*  his  two  sons,  of  whom  the 
eldest  was  married,  and  whose  wife,  and  a  daughter, 
of  thirteen  years  of  age,  completed  the  list. 

.    ■  "  *     -  'i 

Wawatam  related  to  the  other  Indians  the  ad- 
venture of  the  bones.  AH  of  them  expressed  sur- 
prise  at  hearing  it,  and  declared  that  they  had  never 
been  aware  of  the  contents  of  this  cave  before. 
After  visiting'it,  which  they  immediately  did>  almost 
every  one  offered  a  different  opinion,  as  to  its 
history. 


1763.] 


ADVENTURES. 


113 


Some  advanced,  that  at  a  period  when  the  wa- 
ters overflowed  the  land,  (an  event  which  makes  a 
distinguished  figure  in  thehistory  of  their  world,)  the 
inhabitants  of  this  island  had  fled  into  the  cave,  and 
been  there  drowned;  others,  that  those  same  inhabi- 
tants, when  the  Hurons  made  war  upon  them,  (as  tra- 
dition says  they  did,)  hid  themselves  in  the  cave,  and 
being  discovered,  were  there  massacred^  For  my- 
self, I  am  disposed  to  believe,  that  this  cave  was  an 
ancient  r^^ptacle  of  the  bones  of  prisoners,  sacrir 
ficed  and  devoured  at  war-feaste.  I  have  always 
observed,  that  the  Indians  pay  particular  attention 
to  the  bones  of  sacrifices,  preserving  them  uubro- 
ken,  and  depositing  them  in  some  place  kept  exclu- 
sively for  that  purpose. 


15 


\ 


w 

If 


i3'»!i;' 


Imnl'gli'-    >kri        I    •ill 

r!)vif>  {:■;;■; 

wmmk'4 


I*] 


li':'. 


i:;.s!/'^Jt 


'111  :^'tl 


'.^ 


CHAPTER  XIV- 

Cirtf  qf  ifenekwehna  Jbr  the  Author^ 9  preserva- 
tion. Author  assumes  the  Indian  Costume — in 
what  that  Costume  consists.  Provisions  scarce. 
Indian  resignation.  Family  remove  to  the  Bay 
of  Boutchitaouy,  Indian  Medicines.  Pretended 
Sorceries,     Cures  of  Flesh-wounds* 


A  FEW  days  after  the  occurrence  of  theinci. 
dents  recorded  in  the  preceding  chapter,  Meneh- 
wehna,  whom  I  now  found  to  be  the  great  chief] 
of  the  village  of  Michilimackinac,    came  to  thei 
lodge  of  my  friend  ?  and  when  the  usual  ceremony  | 
of  smoking  was  finished,  he  observed   that  In- 
dians were  now  dailj  arriving  from.  Detroit,  some  | 
of  whom  had  lost  relations  or  friends  in  the  war, 
and  who  would  certainly  retaliate  on  any  English- 
man  they  found  ;    upon  which  account,^  his  er- 
rand was  to  advise  that  I  should  be  dressed  like! 
an  Indian,  an  expedient  whence  I  might  hope  to| 
escape  all  future  insult. 

I  could  not  but  consent  to  the  proposal,  and  the 
chief  was  so  kind  as  to  assist  my  friend  and  his  fa 


ires.] 


TRAVELS,  kc. 


115 


mily  in  effecting  that  very  day  the  desired  metamor. 
phosis.  My  hair  was  cut  off,  and  my  head  shaved, 
with  the  exception  of  a  spot  on  the  crown,  of  about 
twice  the  diameter  of  a  crown-piece.  My  &ce  was 
painted  with  three  or  four  different  colours ;  some 
parts  of  it  red,  and  others  black*  A  shirt  was  pro- 
vided for  me,  painted  with  vermilion,  mixed'  \|^ith 
grease^  A  large  collar  of  wampum  was  put  round 
my  neck,  and  another  su^iended  on  my  breast. 
Both  my  arms  were  decorated  with  large  bands  d 
silver  above  the  elbow,  besides  several  smaller  ones 
on  the  wrists;  and  my  legs  were  covered  with  mitas^ 
sesy  a  kind  of  hose,  made,  as  is  the  favourite  fashion, 
of  scarlet  cloth.  Over  all,  I  was  to  wear  a  scarlet 
blanket  or  mantle,  and  on  my  head  a  large  bunch 
of  feathers.  I  parted,  not  without  some  regret, 
with  the  long  hair  which  was  natural  to  it,  and 
which  I  fancied  to  be  ornamental ;  but  the  ladies  of 
the  family,  and  of  the  village  in  general,  appeared 
to  think  my  person  improved,  and  now  condescend- 
ed to  call  me  handsome,  even  among  Indians^ 

■* 
Protected,  in  a  great  measure,  by  this  di^uise, 
I  felt  myself  more  at  liberty  than  before ;  ahd  the 
season  being  arrived  in  which  my  clerks,  from  the 
interior,  were  to  be  expected,  and  some  part  of  my 
property,  as  I  had  a  right  to  hope,  recovered,  I 
be^ed  the  favour  of  Wawatam,  that  he  would 
enable  me  to  pay  a  short  visit  to  Michilimackinac. 
He  did  not  fail  te  comply,  and  I  succeeded  in  fim)- 


I 


116 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


nil  i;"'''^'i 'I    '""''•  :  ' 


iiig  my  clerks  ;  but,  either  through  the  disturbed 
state  of  the  country,  as  they  represented  to  be  the 
case,  or  through  their  misconduct,  as  I  had  reason 
to  think,  I  obtained  nothing;— and  nothing,  or 
almost  nothing,  I  now  began  to  think,  would  be  all 
that  I  should  need,  during  the  rest  of  my  life.  To 
iish  and  to  hunt,  to  collect  a  few  skins,  and  ex. 
change  them  for  necessaries,  was  all  that  I  al|||ned 
destined  to  do,  and  to  acquire,  for  the  future; ' 


I  returned  to  the  Indian  village,  where  at  this  i 
time  much  scarcity  of  food  prevailed.     We  were 
often  for  twenty-four  hours  without  eating  ;  and 
when  in  the  morning  we  had  no  victuals  for  the 
day  before  us,  the  custom  was  to  black  our  faces] 
with  grease  and  charcoal,  and  exhibit,  through  re- 
signation,  a  temper  as  cheerful  as  if  in  the  midst  of| 
plenty. 

A  repetition  of  the  evil,  however,  soon  induced 
us  to  leave  the  island,  in  search  of  food,;  and  ac-l 
cordingly  we  departed  for  the  Bay  of  BoutchitaouyJ 
distant  eight  leagues,  and  where  we  found  plentj| 
of  wild-fowl  and  fish.  * 

While  in  the  bay,  my  guardian's  daughter-in 
law  was  taken  in  labour,  of  her  first  child.     Shf] 
was  immediately  removed  out  of   the  commc 
lodge ;  and  a  small  one,  for  her  separate  accommo] 


•.'n 


'm 


sf^ 


'UMr 


1763.] 


ADVENTURES. 


117 


dation,  was  begun  and  fini^ed  by  the  women  in 
less  than  half  an  hour. 

The  next  morning,  we  heard  that  she  was  very 
ill,  and  the  family  began  to  be  much  alarmed  on 
her  account ;.  the  more  so,  no  doubt,  because  cases 
of  difficult  labour  are  very  rare  among  Indian  wo- 
men. In  this  distress,  Wawatam  requested  me  to 
accompany  him  into  the  woods  ;  and  on  our  way 
i  informed  me,  that  if  he  could  find  a  snake,  he  should 
[soon  secure  relief  to  his  daughter»in-law.  * 

On  reaching  some  wet  ground,  we  speedily  ob- 
lined  the  object  of  our  search,  in  a  small  snake, 
)f  the  kind  called  the  garter-snake.  Wawatam 
seized  it  by  the  neck ;  and,  holding  it  fast,  while  it 
soiled  itself  round  his  arm,  he  cut  off  its  head, 
matching  the  blood  in  a  cup  that  he  had  brought 

nth  him.  This  done,  he  threw  away  the  snake, 
rnd  carried  home  the  blood,  which  he  mixed  with 

quantity  of  water.  Of  this  mixture,  he  adminis- 
[ered  first  one  table-spoonful,  and  shortly  after  a 

xond.  Within  an  hour,  the  patient  was  safely 
lelivered  of  a  fine  child ;  and  Wawatam  subscr 
|uendy  declared,  that  the  remedy,  to  which  he  had 

isorted,  was  one  that  never  failed. 


On  the  next  day,  we  left  the  Bay  of  Boutchi- 
louy  ;  and  the  young  mother,  in  high  spirits,  as- 


118 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


*fe 


>4 


1.1 1.11 


K"* 


ill 


111  'I 


sisted  in  loading  the  canoe,  barefooted,  and  knee- 
deep  in  the  water. 

The  medical  information,  the  diseases  and  the 
remedies  of  the  Indians,  often  engaged  my  curiosi. 
ty,  during  the  period  through  which  I  was  familiar 
with  these  nations ;  and  I  shall  take  this  occasion 
to  introduce  a  few  particulars,  connected  with  their 
history. 

The  Indians  are  in  general  free  from  disorders ; 
and  an  instance  of  their  being  subject  to  dropsy, 
gouty  or  stone,  V  never  came  within  my  knowledge. 
InflamniatlOE^t>f  the  lungs  are  among  their  most 
ordinary  complaints,  and  rheumatism  still  more  so, 
especially  with  the  aged.  Their  mode  of  life,  in 
which  tliey  are  so  much  exposed  to  the  wet  and 
cold,  sleq>ing  on  the  ground,  and  inhaling  the 
night  air,  sufficiently  accounts  for  their  liability  to 
these  diseases.  The  remedies,  on  which  they  most 
rely,  are  emetics,  cathartics  and  the  lancet ;  but 
especially  the  last.  Bleeding  is  so  favourite  an 
operation  among  tlie  women,  that  they  never  lose 
aii  occasion  of  enjoying  it,  whether  sick  or  well.  I 
have  sometimes  bled  a  dozen  women  in  a  mom- 
ing,  as  they  sat  in  a  row,  along  a  fallen  tree,  begin- 
ningwith  the  first — opening  the  vein — then  pro- 
ceeding to  tlie  second — and  so  on,  having  three  or 
four  individuals  bleeding  at  the  same  time. 


.?%: 


/.' 


1763.] 


ADVENTURES. 


119 


In  most  villages,  and  particularly  in  those  of  the 
Chipeways,  this  service  was  required  of  me ;  and 
no  persuasion  of  mine  could  ever  induce  a  woman 
to  dispense  with  it. 

'  In  all  parts  of  the  country,  and  among  all  the 
nations  that  I  have  seen,  particular  individuals 
arrogate  to  themselves  the  ah  of  healing,  but 
principally  by  means  of  pretended  sorcery ;  and 
operations  of  this  sort  are  always  paid  for  by  a  pre- 
sent, made  before  they  are  begun.  Indeed,  whatever, 
as  an  impostor,  may  be  the  demerits  of  the  opera- 
tor, his  reward  may  generally  be  said  to  be  fairly 
earned,  by  dint  of  corporal  labour. 

# 

I  was  once  present  at  a  performance  of  this 
kind,  in  which  the  patient  was  a  female  child  of 
about  twelve  years  of  age.  Several  of  the  ^der 
chiefs  were  invited  to  the  scene  ;  and  the  wne 
compliment  was  paid  to  myself,  on  account  of  the 
medical  skill  for  which  it  was  pleased  to  give  me 
credit.  , 


m^ 


m 


The  physician  (so  to  call  him)  seated  himself  on 
the  ground ;  and  before  him,  on  a  new  stroud 
blanket,  was  placed  a  bason  of  water,  in  which  were 
three  bones,  the  larger  ones,  as  it  appeared  to  me,  of 
a  swan's  wing.  In  his  hand,  he  had  his  shishiguoi, 
or  rattle,  with  which  he  beat  time  to  his  medicine' 
song.     The  sick  child  lay  on  a  blanket,  near  the 


'«£.  'IHlnr'  '•■ ' 


iH" .  1/  'III,    '     ;  ■■ 

hi'::  ■  >■ 


y,i".*t''':}         1 

m  i 

1J 


!i'    ;:l.f' 


Ml. 


1^ : 


■I'   '(r'ii'lti'"      '4 


m 


.pb-t 


120 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


physician.  She  appeared  to  have  much  fever,  ami 
a  severe  oppression  of  the  lungs,  breathing  with 
difficulty,  and  betraying  symptoms  of  the  last  stage 
of  consumption. 

After  sin^ng  for  some  time,  the  physician  took 
one  of  the  bones  out  of  the  bason  :  the  bone  was 
hollow ;  and  one  eild  being  applied  to  the  breast  of 
the  patient,  he  ppt  the  other  into  )iis  mouth,  in 
order  to  remove  the  disorder  by  suction.  Having 
persevered  in  this  as  long  as  he  thought  proper,  he 
suddenly  seemed  to  force  the  bone  into  his  mouth, 
and  swallow  it.  He  now  acted  the  part  of  one  suf. 
fering  severe  pain ;  but,  presently  finding  relief,  he 
made  a  long  speech,  and  after  this,  returned  to 
singing,  and.  to  the  accompaniment  c«r  his  rattle. 
With  the  latter,  during  his  song,  he  struck  his 
head,  breast,  sides  and  back ;  at  the  same  time 
stnuning,  as  if  to  vomit  forth  the  bone. 

Relinquishing  this  attempt,  he  applied  himself  to 
suction  a  second  time,  and  with  the  second  of  the 
three  bones ;  and  this  also  he  soon  seemed  to 
swaUow. 

Upon  its  disappearance,  he  began  to  distort 
himself  in  the  most  frightful  manner,  using  eye- 
ry  gesture  which  could  convey  the  idea  of  pain : 
at  length,  he  succeeded,  or  pretended  to  suc- 
ceed, in  throwing  up  one  of  the  bones.     This  was 

'  ■'    ■        ^        ■     '.^~"-'  ■• "  ", ■.',  "  /   ■■.','•  ,■■■'>  •  ■■.; 

'--         .  -v  „-    \'-:    -,_*■:     -'    -.r:'  ■  ■-  ■ 


tr63.] 


ADVENTrtlES. 


121 


handed  about  to  the  spectators,  and  strictly  exa- 
mined ;  but  nothing  remarkable  could  be  disco- 
vered. Upon  this,  he  went  back  to  his  song  and 
rattle  ;  and  after  some  time  threw  up  the  second 
of  the  two  bones.  In  the  groove  of  this,  the  phy- 
sician, upon  examination,  found,  and  displi^ed 
to  all  prtsent,  a  small  white  substance,  resembling 
a  piece  of  the  quill  of  a  feather.  It  was  passed 
round  the  company,  from  one  to  the  other ;  and 
declared,  by  the  physician,  to  be  the  thing  causing 
the  disorder  of  hit  patient. 

The  multitude  believe  that  these  physicians, 
whom  the  French  csdX  jongleurs,  or  jugglers,  can 
inflict  as  well  as  remove  disorders.  They  believe, 
that  hf  drawing  the  figure  of  any  person  in  sand  or 
ashes,  or  on  clay,  or  by  considering  any  object  as 
the  figure  of  a  person,  and  then  pricking  it  with  a 
sharp  stick,  or  other  substance,  or  doing  in  any 
other  manner,  that  which  done  to  a  living  body, 
would  cause  pain  or  injury,  the  individual  repre- 
sented, or  supposed  to  be  represented,  will  suffer 
accordingly.  On  the  other  hand,  the  mischief  being 
done,  another  physician,  of  equal  pretensions,  can 
by  suction  remove  it. — Unfortunately,  however,^ 
the  operations  which  I  have  described  were  not 
successful,  in  the  instance  referred  to  ;  for,  on  the 
day  after  they  had  taken  place,  the  girl  died. 

16 


Kiif:i' 


■^.hi/ •:,'■■  :^,i'- 


'iJ:' 


Jill    ii' 


las 


TRAVEW  ANP 


|[4^^l^* 


,..|     ,r,<;. 


With  regard  to  fle8h-woun49»  the  Imlmft  ^X- 
ttanly  effect  astoniahing  cures.  Here»  as  at)ove, 
much  that  is  fantastic  occurs ;  but  the  aucoesa  of 
their  practice  evinces  something  soUcI* 

At  the  Sault  de  Saiiite«Marie,  I  knewa  man,  who, 
in  the  result  of  a  quarrel,  received  the  stroke  of  an 
axe  in  his  side.  The  blow  was  so  violent,  and  the 
axe  driven  so  deep,  that  the  wretch  who  held  it 
could  not  withdraw  it,  but  left  it  in  the  wound,  and 
fled.  Shortly  after,  the  man  wasfBund,  and  brought 
into  the  fort,  where  several  other  Indians  came  to 
his  ^sistancc.  Among  these,  one,  who  was  a  phy. 
sician,  immediately  withdrew,  in  order  to  fetch  his 
ptnegusan^  or  medicine*bag,  with  which  he  sooi 
returned*  The  eyes  of  the  sufferer  were  fixed,  hi$ 
teeth  closed,  and  his  case  apparently  desperate* 

The  physician  took  from  his  bag  a  small  por- 
tion of  a  very  white  substance,  resembling  that 
of  a  bone  ;  this  he  scraped  into  a  little  wat^r,  and 
fdrcing  open  the  jaws  of  the  patient  with  a  stick*  be 
poured  tiie  mixture  down  his  throat.  What  fol- 
lowed was,  that  in  a  very  short  space  of  time,  the 
wounded  man  moved  his  eyes  ;  and  beginning  to 
vomit,  threw  up  a  small  lump  of  clotted  bldod. 

The  physician  now,  and  not  before,  examined 
the  wound,  from  which  I  could  see  the  breath  es- 
cape, and  from  which  a  part  of  the  omentum  de- 


t7«l.] 


ADVENTURES. 


i2ar 


pended.  Thit^  the  physician  did  not  aet  aboiit  to 
matore  tp  its  place ;  but,  cutting  it  away,  minced  it 
itito  small  pieces,  and  made  his  patient  swallow  it. 

The  man  was  then  carried  to  his  lodge,  where  I 
disked  him  daily.  By  the  sixth  day,  he  was  able  to 
walk  about ;  and  within  a  month  he  grew  quite 
well,  except  that  he  was  troubled  with  a  cougfa« 
Twenty  years  after  his  misfortune,  he  was  still 
jQlve. 


Another  man,  being  on  his  wintering-ground, 
and  frbm  home,  hunting  beaver,  was  crossing  « 
lake,  covered  with  smooth  ice,  with  two  beavers 
on  his  back,  when  his  foot  slipped,  and  he  fell. 
At  his  side,  in  his  belt,  was  his  axe,  the  blade  of 
which  came  upon  the  joint  of  his  wrist ;  and,  the 
weight  of  his  body  coming  upon  the  blade,  his  hand 
was  completely  separated  from  his  arm,  with  the 
exception  of  a  small  piece  of  the  skin.  He  had  to 
walk  three  miles  to  his  lodge,  which  was  thus  far 
away.  The  akin,  which  alone  retained  his  hand 
to  his  arm,  he  put  through,  with  tlie  same  uxe  which 
had  done  the  rest ;  and  fortunately  having  on  a 
shirt,  he  took  it  off,  tore  it  up,  and  made  a  strong 
ligature  above  the  wrist,  so  as  in  some  measure  to 
avoid  the  loss  of  blood.  On  reaching  his  lodge,  he 
cured  the  wound  himself,  by  the  mere  use  of  sim- 
ples.   I  was  a  Wiw.  ess  to  its  perfect  healing. 


V 


124 


thavel^,  lie. 


ir63.] 


I  have  MJd,  thut  their  physioiAns^  jugglein,  or 
practitioners  of  pretended  sorcery,  are  supposed  to 
be  capable  of  inflicting  diseases;  and  I  may  add,  that 
they  are  sometimes  themselves  sufferers  on  this  ac 
count.  In  one  instance,  I  saw  one  of  them  killed, 
by  a  man  who  charged  him  with  having  brought 
his  brother  to  death,  by  malefic  arts.  The  accu. 
ser,  in  his  rage,  thrust  his  knife  into  the  belly 
of  the  accused,  and  ripped  it  open.  The  latter 
caught  his  bowels  in  his  arms,  and  thus  walked 
toward  his  lodge,  gathering  them  up  from  time  to 
time,  as  they  escaped  his  hold.  His  lodge  was  at 
no  considerable  distance,  and  he  reached  it  alive, 
anddied*init 


'M' 'J 


:>  < 


■)  1. 


>    > 


i  '1'., 


^1'^ 


I 


i  iff    i^i 


■  "IS  '■; 


H^> 


CHAPTER  XV* 


Encamp  on  the  Island  of  Saint- Martin,   Sturgeon- 
fishery.     Remove  to  fVintering-ground,  in  Lake 
Michigan,      Oedgraphical  Remarks,     Beaver^ 
hunting,    Indian  Devotion.    Reaver,    Racoorh 
hunting* 

OUR  next  eticampmcnt  was  on  the  island  of 
Saint- Martin,  off  Cape  Saint- Ignace,  so  called  from 
the  Jesuit  mission  of  Saint  Ignatius  t#the  Hu- 
Irons,  formerly  established  there.  Our  object  was 
to  fish  for  sturgeon,  which  we  d»d  with  great  suc- 
cess ;  and  here,  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  plentiful  and 
lexcellent  supply  of  food,  'we  remained  until  the 
[twentieth  day  of  August.  At  this  time,  the  autumn 

)eing  at  hand,  and  a  sure  prospect  of  increased 
[security  from  hostile  Indians  afforded,  Wawatam 

)ropo8ed  going  to  his  intended  wintering- ground, 
[rhe  removal  was  a  subject  of  the  greatest  joy  to 

lyself,  on  account  of  the  frequent  insults,  to  which 
had  still  to  submit,  from  the  Indians  of  our  band 

)r  village;  and  to  escape  from  which  I  would  freely 
|iavc  gone  almost  any  where.     At  our  wintering- 

jrbund,  we  were  to  be  alone  ;  for  the  Indian  fami- 
lies, in  the  countries  of  which  I  write,  separate  in 


liri '  f 

Ml 


I 


.C^M. 


ii 


i:o.#ife-i 


I     ni 


]i     ■■■1;, 


^1 


la ' 


TJ;! 


^Ji:'i 


I         ,f^ 


I!  i 


■t      i 


1/ 


196 


immA  AND 


[A.  D 


the  winter  seadOM,  fbr  the  convenience,  ii  well  of 
subHiBtcnce  a»  of  the  chase,  and  re^Associate  in  the 
spring  and  summer. 

In  preparation,  our  ilrtit  bUiiiieiiB  was  to  sail  for 
Michlllmackinac,  where,  being  arrived,  we  procu- 
red  fVom  a  Canadian  trader,  on  credit,  some  trifHnj 
artictes,  together  with  ahimunitkm,  and  two  busheli 
of  mai»e.  This  done,  we  Mteerid  directly  fm  Lake 
Michigan,  At  L* Ai  hre  Croche  we  stopped  otic 
day,  on  a  visit  to  the  Otawas,  where  all  the  peo. 
pic,  and  particularly  O'kl'no'chu'ma'kl',  the  chief, 
the  same  who  took  the  (Vom  the  Chifiie^tj, 
behaved  with  great  civility  and  kindness.  Thi! 
chief  pre#\ted  me  with  a  bag  of  maise.  tt  Is  tJie 
Otawas,  It  will  be  remembered,  who  raiste  thli| 
grain,  for  tlie  market  of  Michilimackinac. 

Leaving  L*Arbre  Croche,  ^  proceeded  direct 
to  the  mouth  of  the  river  Aux  Sables,  on  dte  south 
iide  of  the  lake,  and  distant  about  A  hundred  ttnd 
fifty  miles  from  Fort  Mlchilimackinac.  On  o«f| 
voyage,  we  passed  several  deep  bays  and  rivm, 
and  t  found  the  banks  of  the  lake  to  consist  iti  I 
mere  sands,  without  any  appearance  of  vertlurci 
the  sand  drifting  from  one  hill  to  another,  like  snoflfj 
In  winter.  Hence,  all  the  rivers.  Which  here  en- 
tered the  lake,  are  as  much  entitled  to  the  cpithd 
of  wtrtdj/^  us  that  to  which  we  were  bound.  The} 
trc  also  distinguished  by  another  particularity, 


:i| 


mi':  IW  Ji^R.'i' 


■f , 


**■ 


,.,>**"■• 


JJ 


^' 


ir«a.] 


ApVllNTURCfl. 


w 


ttlwuyi  obierv«ble  in  iimilor  lituationi*  The  cur- 
rent Qiibts  qitrean^  jbeing  tticti  when  the  wind  is  c<^- 
tmry,  by  the  waves  of  the  lakCf  it  is  driven  backt 
md  the  sands  of  the  ^hore  are  at  the  sam#  time 
washed  in!tQ  its  mouth*  In  conseqi  ^nce^  the  riv^ 
is  able  to  force  a  passage  into  the  kltei  broad  only 
in  proportion  to  its  utmost  streng;th ;  while  it  hol- 
lows for  itselfi  behind  the  sand'banks,  a  bason  of 
onei  !two»  or  three  titles  across.  In  these  rivers  we 
IciUed  many  wi)d'fowMnd  beaver. 

To  \t\\\  beaveo  we  used  to  go  several  miles  up 
I  the  rivers,  before  the  approach  of  nighti  and  aftq* 
I  the  dufil^  Cfune  on,  suffer  the  canoe  to  drift  gently 
down  the  current,  without  noise.  Th«|^aver,  tn 
this  part  of  the  evening,  come  abroad  ro  procure 
I  food,  or  materials  for  repairing  their  habitations ; 
land  as  they  are  not  alarmed  by  the  canoe,  they  often 
Ipass  it  within  gun-shot. 

While  we  thus  hunted  along  our  way,  I  enjoyed 
personal  freedom  of  which  I  had  been  long  de- 
prived, and  became  as  expert  in  the  Indian  pur- 
lutts,  as  the  Indians  themselves. 

On  entering  the  river  Aux  Sables,  Wawatam 
^k  a  dog,  tied  iu  feet  together,  and  threw  it 
^nto  the  stream,  uttering,  at  the  same  time,  along 
prayer,  which  he  addressed  to  the  Great  Spirit, 
nuppHcating  his  blessing  on  the  chase,  and  his  aid 


'Mj: 


«■'«'" 

* 


I- 


}^:mMwk-  ■?; 


!!.•,■;•' 


iff  i;    .'■■  ,  i^d':.''"!- 


*.*:i 


I    ^t 


1.    J-'i  h'    I!' 


'■^if 


:i!: 


':i',;ilii':^: 


ii-:i 


l!'|ll 


Jlf...      f I  i:l 


:■;.  i 


■'ijiji 


ir 


■i"     1:, 


'      I 


128 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


in  the  support  of  the  family,  through  the  dangers  of 
a  long  winter. — Our  lodge  was  fifteen  miles  above 
the  mouth  6f  the  stream.  The  principal  animals, 
Which  the  country  afforded,  were  the  stag  or  red- 
deer,  the  common  American  deer,  the  bear,  ra- 
coon, beaver  and  marten. 

The  beaver  feeds  in  preference  on  young  wood 
of  the  birch,  aspen,  and  poplar ^tree;^  but,  in  defect 
of  these,  on  any  other  tree,  those  of  the  pine  and 
fir  kinds  excepted.  These  latter  it  employs  only 
for  building  its  dams  and  houses.  In  wide  mea- 
dows, where  no  wood  is  to  be  found,  it  resorts,  for 
all  its  purposes,  to  the  roots  of  the  rush  and  water- 
lily.  It  d^suroes  great  quantities  of  food,  whether 
of  roots  or  wood;  and  hence  often  reduces  itself! 
to  the  necessity  of  removing  into  a  new  quarter,  j 
Its  house  has  an  arched  dome-like  roof,  of  an  clip- 
tical  figure,  and  rises  from  three  to  four  feet  above  { 
the  surface  of  the  water.  It  is  always  entirely  sur- 
rounded  by  water ;  but,  in  the  banks  adjacent,  the  | 
animal  provides  holes  or  washes^  of  which  the  en- 
trance  is  below  the  surface,  and  to  "which  it  retreats  | 
on  the  first  alarm. 


m<\ 


w 


WW'k 


The  female  beaver  usually  produces  two  young 
at  a  time,  but  not  unfrequently  more.     During  the 

^Pofiulu9  nigruy  called,  by  the  Canadians,  Hard. 


'••--».*> 


vji} 


:S. 


ADVENTURES. 


129 


irst  year,  the  young  remain  with  their  parents.  In 
the  second,  they  occupy  an  adjoining  apartment, 
id  assist  in  building,  and  in  procuring  food.  At 
[wo  years  old,  they  part,  and  build  houses  of  their 
)wn  ;  but  often  rove  about  for  a  considerable  time, 
^efore  they  fix  upon  a  spot.  There  are  beavers, 
galled,  by  the  Indians,  old  bachelorsy  who  live 
^y  themselves,  build  no  houses,  and  work  at 
^0  dams,  but  shelter  themselves  in  holes.  The 
^sual  method  of  taking  these  is  by  traps,  formed  of 
ron*  or  logs,  and  baited  with  branches  of  poplar. 

According  to  the  Indians,  the  beaver  is  much 
^ven  to  jealousy.  If  a  strange  male  amroaches 
le  cabin,  a  battle  immediately  ensues,  ^f  this^ 
le  female  remains  an  unconcerned  spectator,  care- 
Kss  to  which  party  the  law  of  conquest  may  assign 
;r.  Among  the  beaver  which  we  killed,  those 
^ho  were  with  me  pretended  to  show  demonstra- 
|ons  of  this  fact ;  some  of  the  skins  of  the  males, 
id  almost  all  of  the  older  ones,  bearing  marks  of 
iolence,  while  none  were  ever  to  be  seen  on  the 

Lins  of  the  females. 


* 

The  Indians  add,  that  the  male  is  as  constant  as 

is  jealous,  never  attaching  himself  to  more  than 

le  female ;  while  the  female,  on  her  side,  is  always 

^nd  of  strangers.  ^ 


a.  ft  ■•■i.-i^ i!   ■   ■' 


JIM? 


!,i'  il 


I' 


■'  ■'•"''iiJiif'i      SI  ;■-    '     '  ■■ 


i- 


130  IHAVELS  AND  [A.^! 

The  most  common  way  o^  taking  the  beaver  J 
that  of  breaking  up  its  house,  which  is  done  witkl 
trenching-tools,  during  the  winter,  When  the  ice  J 
strong  enough  to  allow  of  approaching  them  ;  9s\ 
when,  also,  the  fur  is  in  its  most  valuable  state. 

Breaking  up  the  house,  however,  is  only  a  prtj 
paratory  step.  During  this  operation,  the  famil) 
make  their  escape  to  one  or  more  of  their  wasjj( 
These  are  to  be  discovered,  by  striking  the  ia 
along  the  bank,  and  where  the  holes  are,  a  hcJllo 
sound  is  returned.  After  discovering  and  ses 
ing  many  of  these  in  vain,  we  often  found  the  who 
family  together,  in  the  same  wash.  I  Was  tau^ 
occasidHUy  to  distinguish  a  full  wash  from  an  enip 
one,  by  the  motion  of  the  water  above  its  entrana 
occasioned  by  the  breathing  of  the  animals  co 
cealed  in  it.  From  the  washes,  they  must  be  taktj 
out  with  the  hands  ;  and  in  doing  this,  tlie  huntt 
sometimes  receives  severe  wounds  from  their  tc 
While  a  hunter,  I  thought,  with  the  Indians, 
the  beaver-flesh  was  very  good;  but  after 
of  the  ox  was  again  within  my  reach,  I  cou 
not  relish  it.  The  tail  is  accounted  a  lyxuric 
morsel. 

Beavers,  say  the  Indians,  were  formerly  a 
pic  endowed  with  speech,  not  less  than  with 
other  noble  faculties  they  possess  ;  but,  the  Gr 


|:v:  ■■:  at 


1763.] 


ADVENTURES. 


131 


Spirit  has  taken  this  away  from  them,  lest  they 
kould  grow  superior  in  understanding  to  mankind* 

The  racoon  was  another  object  of  our  chase.  It 
^as  my  practice  to  go  out  it|  the  evening,  with 
logs,  accompanied  by  the  youngest  son  of  my  guar* 
|ian,  to  hunt  this  animal.  The  racoon  ncvci: 
(aves  its  hiding-place  till  after  sun-set. 

As  soon  as  a  dog  falls  on  a  fresh  track  of  the 
icoon,  he  gives  notice  by  a  cry,  and  immediately 
irsues.  His  barking  enables  the  hunter  to  follow. 
*he  racoon,  which  travels  slowly,  and  is  soon  over- 
men, makes  for  a  tree,  on  which  he  remains  till 
iot. 

After  the  falling  of  the  snow,  nothing  more  is 
[cessary,  for  taking  the  racoon,  than  to  follow  the 
ick  of  his  feet.  In  this  season,  he  seldom  leaves 
habitation  ;  and  he  never  lays  up  any  food, 
lave  found  six  at  a  time,  in  the  hollow  of  one 
ke,  lying  upon  each  other,  and  nearly  in  a  torpid 
ite.  In  more  than  one  instance,  I  have  asccr- 
(ned  that  they  have  lived  six  weeks  without  food. 
ie  mouse  is  their  principal  prey. 

lacoon-hunting  was  my  more  particular  and 
lly  employ.     I  usually  went  out  at  the  first  dawn 
ay,  and  seldom  returned  till  sun-set,  or  till  I  had 


% 


iiiPi 


f\.  J:r' 


ill'' 


132 


TRAVELS,  aec. 


1^63.]  I 


laden  myself  with  as  many  animals  as  I  could  cany. 
By  degrees,  I  became  familiarized  with  this  kind  of  I 
life;  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  idea  of  which  I 
could  not  divest  my  mind,  that  I  was  living  amon^l 
savages,  and  for  tbn  whispers  of  a  lingering  hope,! 
that  I  should  one  day  be  released  from  it — orifjl 
could  have  forgotten  that  I  had  ever  been  otherj 
wise  than  as  I  then  was— I  could  have  enjoyed, 
much  happiness  in  this,  as  in  any  other  situation. 


*  'St  • , 


m 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Fe(ut  of  the  Manes  of  Relations  and  Friends,  Pro^ 
duct  of  Chase,  Indian  Family  set  out  on  a  Hunt- 
ing Excursion,  Indian  travelling  by  Land, 
Author  loses  his  Way, 

r 

ONE  evening,  on  my  return  from  hunting,  I 
found  the  fire  put  out,  and  the  opening,  in  the  top 
of  the  lodge,  covered  over  with  skins ;  by  this 
means  excluding,  as  much  as  possible,  extemial 
light.  I  further  observed,  that  the  ashes  were 
removed  from  the  fire-place,  and  that  dry  sand  was- 
spread  where  they  had  been.  Soon  after,  a  fire 
was  made  without  side  the  cabin,  in  the  open  air, 
and  a  kettle  hung  over  it  to  boil. 


I  now  supposed  &at  a  feast  was  in  preparation. 
I  supposed  so,  only  ;  for  it  would  have  been  inde- 
corous to  inquire  into  the  meaning  of  what  I  saw. 
No  person,  among  the  Indians  themselves,  would 
use  this  freedom.  Good-breeding  requires  that  the 
spectator  should  patiently  wait  the  result. 


*.b  I'll 


1  K 


nu  i' 


II: ; 


il'iil 


ii:'  ilii'^ 


i:i;:te*i^! 


134 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


As  soon  as  the  darkness  of  night  had  arrived, 
the  family,  including  myself,  were  invited  into  the 
lodge.  I  was  now  requested  not  to  speak,  as  a 
feast  was  about  to  be  given  to  the  dead,  whose 
spirits  delight  in  uninterrupted  silence. 

As  we  entered,  each  was  presented  with  his 
wooden-dish  and  spoon,  after  receiving  which  we 
seated  ourselves.  The  door  was  next  shut,  and  we 
remained  in  perfect  darkness. 

The  master  of  tlie  family  was  the  master  of  the 
feast.  Still  in  the  dark,  he  asked  every  one,  by 
turn,  for  his  dish,  and  put  into  each  two  boiled  ears 
of  maize.  The  whole  being  served,  he  began  to 
speak.  In  his  discourse,  which  lasted  half  an  hour, 
he  called  upon  the  manes  of  his  deceased  relations 
and  friends,  beseeching  them  to  be  present,  to  assist 
•him  in  the  chase,  and  to  partake  of  the  food  which 
he  had  prepared  for  them.  Wh^n  he  had  ended,  we 
proceeded  to  eat  our  maize,  which  we  did  without 
other  noise  than  what  was  occasioned  by  our  teeth. 
The  maize  was  not  half  boiled,  and  it  took  me  an 
hour  to  consume  my  share.  «.  I  was  requested  not 
to  break  the  spikes,^  as  this  would  be  displeasing 
to  the  departed  spirits  of  their  friends.  o-t 

*  Tiie  grains  of  maize,  called  also  Indian  com,  grow 
in  compact  cells,  round  a  spike.        j^j,.^i  ^^,  j^ »,  .^  ic/Zi;,/  -*v'  j*. 


.Vvj 


■*vv-- 


1763.] 


•ADVENTURKS. 


135 


lan  com,  grow 


^4  When  all  was  eaten,  Wawatam  made  another 
speech,  with  which  the  ceremony  ended.  A  new 
fire  was  kindled,  with  fresh  sparks,  from  flint  and 
steel ;  and  the  pipes  being  smoked,  the  spikes  were 
carefully  buried,  in  a  hole  made  in  the  ground  for 
that  purpose,  within  the  lodge.  This  done,  the 
whole  family  began  a  dance,  Wawatam  singingi 
and  beating  a  drum.  The  dance  continued  the 
greater  part  of  the  night,  to  the  great  pleasure  of 
the  lodge. — The  night  of  the  feast  was  that  of  the 
first  day  of  November. 

On  the  twentieth  of  December,  we  took  an  ac- 
count of  the  produce  of  our  hunt,  and  found  that 
we  had  a  hundred  beaver .^skins,  as  many  racoons, 
and  a  large  quantity  of  dried  vemson ;  all  which 
was  secured  from  the  wolves,  by  being  placed  upcm 
a  scaffold. 

A  hunting-excursion,  into  the  interior  of  the 
country,  was  resolved  on ;  and,  early  the  next  morn- 
ing, the  bundles  were  made  up  by  the  women,  for 
each  person  to  carry.  I  remarked,  that  the  bundle 
given  to  me  was  the  liehtest,  and  those  carried  by 
the  women,  the  largest  and  heaviest  of  the  whole. 

On  the  first  day  of  our  march,  we  advanced  about 
twenty  miles,  and  then  encamped.  Being  some- 
what fatigued,  I  could  not  hunt ;  but  Wawatam 


M¥ 


136 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


i 


\< .' 


|<    !>{  h 


killed  a  stag,  not  far  from  our  encampment.  The 
next  morning,  we  moved  our  lodge  to  the  carcass. 
At  this  station,  we  remained  two  days,  employed  in 
drying  the  meat.  The  method  was  to  cut  it  into 
slices,  of  the  thickness  of  a  steak,  and  then  hang  it 
over  the  fire,  in  the  smoke.  On  the  third  day,  wtj 
removed,  and  marched  till  two  o^clock  in  the  after- 
noon. 

While  the  women  were  busy  in  erecting  and 
preparing  the  lodges,  I  took  my  gun,  and  strolled 
away,  telling  Wawatam  that  I  intended  to  look  out 
for  some  fresh  meat,  for  supper.  He  answered, 
that  he  would  do  the  same  ;  and,  on  this,  we  both 
left  the  encampment,  in  different  directions. 

The  sun  being  visible,  I  entertained  no  fear  of 
losing  my  way  ;  but,  in  following  several  tracks  of 
animals,  in  momentary  expectation  of  falling  in  with 
the  game,  I  proceeded  to  a  considerable  distance, 
and  it  was  not  till  near  sun-set  that  1  thought  of  re- 
turning. The  sky,  too,  had  become  overcast,  ana 
I  was  therefore  left  without  the  sun  for  my  guide. 
\  III  this  situation,  I  walked  as  fast  as  I  could,  always 
supposing  myself  to  be  approaching  our  encamp- 
ment, till  at  length  it  became  so  dark  that  I  ran 
against  the  trees. 


V.  ■■, 


Vv 


!r63.] 


ADVENTURES. 


137 


I  became  convinced  that  I  was  lost ;  and  I  was 
alarmed  by  the  reflection,  that  I  was  in  a  country 
entirely  strange  to  me,  and  in  danger  from  strange 
Indians.  With  the  flint  of  my  gun,  I  made  a  fire, 
and  then  laid  me  down  to  sleep.  In  the  night,  it 
rained  hard.  I  awoke,  cold  and  wet ;  and  as  soon 
as  light  appeared,  I  recommenced  my  journey, 
sometimes  walking  and  sometimes  running,  un- 
knowing where  to  go,  bewildered,  and  like  a  mad- 
man. 

Toward  evening,  I  reached  the  border  of  a  large 
lake,  of  which  I  could  scarcely  discern  the  opposite 
shore.  I  had  never  heard  of  a  lake  in  this  part  of 
the  country,  and  therefore  felt  myself  removed  fur- 
ther than  ever  from  the  object  of  my  pursuit.  To 
tread  back  my  steps  appeared  to  be  the  most  likely 
means  of  delivering  myself;  and  I  accordingly  de- 
termined to  turn  my  face  directly  from  the  lake, 
I  and  keep  tliis  direction  as  nearly  as  I  could. 

A  heavy  snow  began  to  descend,  and  night  soon 
[afterward  came  on.  On  this,  I  stopped  and  made 
la  fire  ;  and  stripping  a  tree  of  its  sheet  of  bark,  lay 
(down  under  it,  to  shelter  me  from  the  snow.  All 
night,  at  small  distances,  the  wolves  howled  around ; 
land,  to  me,  seemed  to  be  acquainted  with  my  mis- 
Ifortune.         ^ 

18 


4 


I, '•■*♦.. .  ■  ,^ 


h  lilies    i 

fit!?  ■ji'; 


r  '^ 


138 


TRAVELS  AN© 


[A.  D. 


Amid  thoughts  the  most  distseiict^,  I  wu  able, 
at  length,  to  M  asleep ;  but  it  was  not  long  before 
I  awoke,  refreshed,  and  wondeidog  at  the  terror  to 
which  I  had  yielded  «iysel£  That  I  could  really 
have  wanted  the  means  of  recovering  my  way,  ap. 
peared  to  me  almost  incredible  ;  and  the  recollec- 
tion of  it  hke  a  dream»  or  as  a  ciccumstfuice  which 
must  have  proceeded  from  the  loss  of  my  senses. 
Had  this  not  happened,  I  could  never,  as  I  now 
thought,  have  suffered  so  long,  without  calling  to 
mind  the  lessons  which  I  had  received  f{om  my  In 
dian  friend,  for  the  very  purpose  of  being  useilil  to 
me,  in  difficulties  of  this  kind.  These  were,  that  ge- 
nerally speaking,  the  tops  of  pine-trees  lean  toward 
the  rising  of  the  sun  ;  that  moss  grows  toward 
the  roots  of  trees,  on  the  side  which  faces  the  north; 
and  that  the  limbs  of  trees  are  most  numeroiis,  and 
largest,  on  that  which  faces  the  south. 

Determined  to  direct  my  feet  by  these  marks, 
and  persuaded  that  I  should  thus,  sooner  or  later, 
reach  Lake  Michigan,  which  I  reckoned  to  be  dis 
tant  about  sixty  miles,  I  began  my  marcJi  at  break 
of  day.  I  had  not  taken,  nor  wished  to  take,  any 
nourishment,  since  I  left  the  encampment ;  I  had 
M'ith  me  my  gun  and  ammunition,  and  was  there- 
fore under  no  anxiety  in  regard  to  food.  The  snow 
lay  about  half  a  foot  in  depth.  ^ 


,       lit       -  ij:  ,»■ 


.* 


1763.] 


ADVENTURES. 


139 


My  eyefe  wc>c  now  employ^  upon  the  trees. 
When  their  tops  leaned  different  \V9}%  I  looked  to 
the  moss,  or  to  the  branches  ;  and  by  connecting 
one  with  another,  I  found  |the  means  of  travelling 
with  some  degree  of  confidence.  At  four  o'clock, 
in  the  afternoon,  the  sun,  to  my  inexpressible  joy, 
broke  from  the  clouds,  and  I  had  now  no  further 
need  of  examining  the  trees. 

In  going  down  the  side  of  a  lofty  hill,  I  saw  a 
herd  of  re<9deer  approaching.  Desirous  of  killing 
one  of  them  for  food,  I  hid  myself  in  the  bushes, 
and  on  a  large  one  coming  near,  presented  my 
piece,  which  missed  fire,  on  account  of  the  priming 
having  been  wetted.  The  animals  walked  along, 
without  taking  the  least  alarm ;  and,  having  re- 
loaded my  gun,  I  followed  them,  and  presented  a 
second  time.  But,  now,  a  disaster  of  the  heaviest 
kind  had  befallen  me  ;  for,  on  attempting  to  fire,  I 
found  that  I  had  lost  the  cock.  I  had  previously 
lost  the  screw  by  which  it  was  fastened  to  the  lock  ; 
and  to  prevent  this  from  being  lost  also,  I  had  tied 
it  in  its  place,  with  a  leather  string :  the  lock,  to 
prevent  its  catching  in  the  bows,  I  had  carried 
under  my  molton  coat. 

Of  all  the  sufferings  which  I  had  experienced, 
this  seemed  *to  me  the  most  severe.     I  \^^s  in  a 


I*!* 


140 


travels;  Sec. 


r^^-tg 


111       Tl:r,i, 


B:!i;|i'-. 


ir^3.3 


strange  country,  and  knew  not  how  far  I  liad  to  go. 
I  had  been  three  days  without  food  ;  I  was  now 
without  the  means  of  procuring  myself  either  food 
or  fire.  Despair  had  almost  overpowered  me; 
but,  I  soon  resigned  myself  into  the  hands  of  that 
Providence,  whose  arm  had  so  often  saved  me,  and 
returned  on  my  track,  in  search  of  what  I  had  lost. 
My  search  >vas  in  vain,  and  I  resumed  my  course, 
M;et,  cold^iid  hungry^  and  almost  without  clothing. 


m 


••;.!' 


!    :i^:ii 


*t 


^|rl 


CHAPTER  XVir. 

Author  regains   the  Encampment — kills  a  Bear. 
Indians  endeavour  to  soothe  the  Manes  of  the 
Bear,  and  pay  it  the  homage  of  the  customary 
Feast,  Sl^e  Remarks  on  the  ^aturrl  History  of 
the  Bear.     Stag-hunting. 


THE  sun  was  setting  fast,  when  I  descended  a 
[hill,  at  the  bottom  of  which  was  a  small  lake,  en- 
tirely frozen  over.  On  drawing  near,  I  saw  a  bea- 
|ver-lodge  in  the  middle,  offering  some  faint  prospect 
)f  food ;  but,  I  found  it  already  broken  up.  While 
looked  at  it,  it  suddenly  occurred  to  me,  that  I 
id  seen  it  before ;  and  turning  my  eyes  round  the 
)lace,  I  discovered  a  small  tree,  which  I  had  myself 
iVLt  down,  in  the  autumn,  when,  in  company  with 
ly  friends,  I  had  taken  the  beaver.  I  was  no 
longer  at  a  loss,  but  knew  both  the  distance  and 
le  route  to  the  encampment.  The  latter  was  only 
^o  follow  the  course  of  a  small  stream  of  water, 
^hich  ran  from  the  encampment  to  the  lake  on 
^hich  I  stood.  An  hour  before,  I  had  thought  my- 
:lf  the  most  miserable  of  men ;  and  now  I  leaped 
for  joy,  and  called  myself  the  happiest. 


U2 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


iii:,;|''  i: 


The  whole  of  the  night,  and  through  all  the  sue- 
ceeding  day,  I  walked  up  the  rivulet,  and  at  sun- 
set  reached  the  encampment,  where  I  was  received 
with  the  warmest  expressions  of  pleasure  by  the 
family,  by  whom  I  had  been  given  up  for  lost,  after 
a  long  and  vain  search  for  me  In  the  woods. 

Some  dajrs  elapsed,  during  wMch  I  rested  my. 
self,  and  recruited  niy  strength  :  aftei*  this,  I  re- 
sumed the  chase,  secure,  that  ks  the  snow  had 
now  fallen,  I  cotlld  always  return  ijr  the  way 
I  went. 

In  the  course  of  the  month  of  Januar}%  I  hap. 
pened  to  observe  that  the  trunk  of  a  very  large 
pine-tree  was  much  torn  by  the  claws  of  a  bear, 
made  both  in  going  up  and  down.  On  further 
examination,  I  saw  that  there  was  a  large  opening, 
in  the  upper  part,  near  which  the  smaller  branches  I 
were  broken.  From  these  marks,  and  from  the 
additional  circumstance,  that  there  were  no  tracks 
on  the  snow,  there  was  reason  to  believe  that  a  bear  | 
lay  concealed  in  the  tree. 


On  returning  to  the  lodge,  I  communicated  in) 
discovery ;  and  it  was  agreed  that  all  the  family  | 
should  go  together,  in  the  morning,  to  assist  in  cut 
ting  down  the  tree,  the  girth  of  which  was  not  less  I 
than  three  fathom.     The  women,  at  first,  opposed 
the  undertaking,  because  our  axes,  being  only  of  a 


1714] 


ADVENTUJIES. 


149 


pound  and  a  half  ivcigbt,  were  not  weU  adafited 
to  so  heavy  a  htbcmr ;  but,  the  hope  of  finding  a 
large  bear,  and  obtainii^  from  its  fat  a  great  quan- 
tity of  oil,  an  article  at  the  time  much  w^anted,  at 
length  prevailed* 

Accordingly,  in  the  morning,  we  anrrounded  the 
tree,  both  men  and  women,  as  maay  at  a  time  as 
could  conveniently  work  at  it ;  and  here  we  toiled, 
like  beaver,  till  the  sun  went  down.  This  day's 
work  carri^  us  about  halfway  through  the  trunk  ; 
and  the  next  morning  we  renewed  the  attack,  con- 
tinuing it  till  about  two  o'clock,  in  the  afternoon, 
when  the  tree  fell  to  the  ground.  For  a  few  minutes, 
every  thing  remained  quiet,  and  I  feared  that  all 
our  expectations  were  disappointed  ;  but,  as  I  ad- 
vanced to  the  opening,  there  came  out,  to  the  great 
satisfaction  of  all  our  party,  a  bear  of  extraordinary 
I  size,  which,  before  she  had  proceeded  many  yaitds, 
I  shot. 


The  bear  being  dead,  all  my  assistants  up. 
Iproached,  and  all,  but  more  particularly  my  old 
[mother,  (as  I  was  wont  to  call  her,)  took  his  head  in 
Itheir  hands,  stroking  and  kissing  it  several  times ; 
Ibegging  a  thousand  pardons  for  taking  away 
Iher  life  ;  calling  her  their  relation  and  grand- 
Imother;  and  requesting  her  not  to  lay  the  fault 
Jupon  them,  since  it  was  truly  an  Englishman  that 
lad  put  her  to  death. 


kirlili 


■m 


Wri 


iiiii 


i  J      Ml 


»!!; 


iUi 


I'  «!). 


■   I;  !■■ 


IH 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


This  ceremony  was  not  of  long  duration ;  and  if  it 
was  I  that  killed  their  grand-mother,  they  were  not 
themselves  behind-hand  in  what  remained  to  be 
performed.  The  skin  being  taken  off,  we  found  the 
fat  in  several  places  six  inches  deep.  This,  bebg 
divided  into  two  parts,  loaded  two  persons ;  and  the 
flesh  parts  ^Vere  as  much  as  four  persons  could 
carry.  In  all,  the  carcass  must  have  exceeded  five 
hundred  weight. 

'  As  soon  as  we  reached  the  lodge,  the^ear's  head 
>vas  adorned  with  all  the  trinkets  in  the  possession 
of  the  family,  such  as  silver  arm-bands  and  wrist. 
bands,  and  belts  of  wampum ;  and  then  laid  upon  a 
scaffold,  set  up  for  its  reception,  within  the  lodge. 
Near  the  nose,  was  placed  a  large  quantity  of  to. 
bacco. 

The  next  morning  no  sooner  appeared,  than  pre. 
parations  were  made  for  a  feast  to  the  manes.  The 
lodge  was  cleaned  and  swept ;  and  the  head  of  the 
bear  lifted  up,  and  a  new  stroud  blanket,  which  had 
never  been  used  before,  spread  under  it.  The  pipes 
were  now  lit ;  and  Wawatam  blew  tobacco- smoke 
into  the  nostrils  of  the  bear,  telling  me  to  do 
the  same,  and  thus  appease  the  anger  of  the  bear, 
on  account  of  my  having  killed  her.  I  endea. 
voured  to  persuade  my  benefactor  and  friendly 
adviser,  that  she  no  longer  had  any  life,  and  as. 
sured  him  that  I  was  under  no  apprehension  from 


%. 


F6i.J 


ADVENTURES. 


145 


lier  (tispleasiire ;  but,  the  first  prqMsition  obtain- 
no  credit  and  the  second  gave  but  little  satis- 
ictlon. 

At  length,  the  feast  being  ready,  Wawatam 
commenced  a  speech,  resembling,  iii  many  things, 
lis  address  to  the  manes  of  his  relations  and  depart- 
ed companions ;  but,  having  this  peculiarity,  that 
le  Here  deplored  the  necessity  under  which  men 

>oured,  thus  to  destroy  their  Jr  tends.  He  repre- 
sented, however,  that  the  misfortune  was  unavoid- 
ible,  since  witliout  doing  so,  they  could  by  no 
leans  subsist.  The  speech  >  ended,  we  all  ate 
leartily  of  the  bear's  flesh ;  and  even  the  head  itself^ 

iT  remaining  three  days  on  the  scaifold,  was  put 
into  the  kettle. 


It  is  only  the  female  bear  that  makes  her  winter 
lodging  in  the  upper  parts  of  trees,  a  practice  by 
which  her  young  are  scciu^  froiti  the  attacks  of 
jwolves  and  other  animals.  She  brings  forth  in  the 
nnter-season  ;  and  remains  in  her  lodge  till  the 
[cubs  have  gained  some  strength.  , 

The  male  always  lodges  in  tlie  ground,  under  the 
[roots  of  trees.  He  takes  to  this  habitation  as  soon 
las  the  snow  falls,  and  remains  there  till  it  has  dis- 
i  appeared.  The  Indians  remark,  that  the  bear  comes 

19 


146 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


out  in  the  spring  with  the  same  &t  which  he  car. 
lied  in,in'the  autumn ;  but,  after  exercise  of  onfy) 
few  days,  becomes  lean.  Excepting  for  ashort  part| 
of  the  season,  the  male  lives  constantly  alone. 

The  fat  of  our  bear  was  melted  down,  and  dx 
oil  filled  six  porcupine-skins.^  A  part  of  the  meat 
was  cut  into  strips,  and  fire-dried,  after  which  it  wai 
put  into  the  vessels  containing  the  oil,  where  it  re. 
mained  in  perfect  preservation,. until  the  middle  of  | 
summer* 

February,  in  the  country  and  by  the  people 
where  and  among  whom  I  was,  is  called  the  Moon 
of  Hard,  or  Crusted  Snow ;  for  now  the  snov 
can  bear  a  man,  or  at  least  dogs,  in  pursuits 
animals  of  the  chase.  At  this  season,  the  stag  is 
very  successfully  hunted,  his  feet  breaking  througii 
at  every  step,  and  the  crust  upon  the  snow, 
cutting  his  legs,  with  its  sharp  edges,  to  the 
very  bone.  He  is  consequently,  in  this  distress, 
an  easy  prey  ;  and  it  frequently  happened  that 
we  killed  twelve  in  the  short  space  of  two  hour  J 
By  this  means,  we  were  soon  put  into  posses- 
sion of  four  thousand  weight  of ;  dried  venison, 


*  The  animal,  whichi  in  America^  is  calle4  the  porcupine, 
is  a  hedge-hog,  or  urchin. 


'■'■^ 


calle4  the  porcupine, 


ADVENTURES. 


147 


rhich  was  to  be  carried  on  our  backs,  along  with 

the  rest  of  our  wealth,  for  seventy  miles,  the 

listance  of  our  encampment  from  that  part   of 

le  lake  shore,  at  which  in  the  autu^^l  we  left 

)ur  canoes.   This  journey  it  was  our^next  business 

perform. 


#■ 


rvm-M. 


A    / 


r-      '•■,! 


liir 


'twr^.tiK^(i(tii^ 


^    CHAPTER  XVm. 

Commence  return  to  Michilimackinac.  Joinotkx 
Indian  Families,  and  make  Maple-sugar,  Family 
Lands,  Child  Scalded,  Prayers^  Fasts  and  i 
crijices  for  its  Recovery,  Child  Dies,  Bodym\ 
riedfor  Burialy  at  the  accustomed 'Burial-gn 
of  the  Family,  Burial,  Indian  Opinions.conct 
ing  the  Future  State  of  the  Soul  of  Man. 

OUR  venison  and  furs  and  peltries  were  to  I 
disposed  of  at  Michilimackinac,  and  it  was  nowl 
season  for  carrying  them  to  market.     Thewoi 
therefore  prepared  our  loads;  and  the  morning^ 
departure  being  come,  we  sat  dff  at  day -break, 
continued  our  march  till  two  o'clock  in  the  aftt 
noon.     Where  we  stopped,  we  erected  a  scaffd 
on  which  we  deposited  the  bundles  we  had  broiig 
and  returned  to  our  encampment,  \vhich  we  reach 
in  the  evening.     In  the  morning,  we  carried  (n 
loads,  which  being  deposited  with  the  rest,  wei 
turned  a  second  time  in  the  evening.    Thisi 
repeated,  till  all  was  forwarded  one  stage.    Ti 
removing  our  lodge  to  the  place  of  deposit,  wei 
.  ried  our  goods,  with  the  same  patient  toil,  a  secc 


149 


TRAVELS,  fcc. 


1764.] 


Stage ;  and  so  on,  till  we  were  at  no  gteat  distance 
from  the  shored  of  the  lake. 

Arrived  here,  we  turned  our  attention  to  sugar-, 
making,  the  management  of  which,  as  I  have  before 
related,  belongs  to  the  women,  the  men  cutting 
wood  for  the  fires,  and  hunting  and  fishing.  In 
the  midst  of  this,  we  were  joined  by  several  lodges 
of  Indians,  most  of  whom  were  of  the  family  to 
which  I  belonged,  and  had  wintered  near  us.  The 
lands  belonged  to  this  family,  and  it  had  there- 
fore the  exclusive  right  to  hunt  on  them.  This 
is  according  to  the  custom  of  the  people ;  for 
each  family  has  its  own  lands.  I  was  treated  very 
civiDy  by  all  the  lodgts. 

Oiir  society  had  been  a  short  time  enlarged,  by 
this  arrival  of  our  friends,  when  an  accident  occur- 
red which  filled  all  the  village  with  anxiety  and  sor- 
row. A  little  child,  belonging  to  one  of  oiu*  neigh- 
bours, fell  into  a  kettle  of- boiling  syrup.  It  was 
instantly  snatched  out,  but  with  little  hOpe  of  its 
recovery.  "  * 

• » '    *■  t  -"     * 

So  long,  howe^r,  as  it  lived,  a  continual  feast 
was  observed ;  and  this  was  Inade  to  the  Great 
Spint  and  Master  of  Life,  that  he  might  be  pleased 
to  save  ami  heal  the  child.  At  this  feast,  I  was  a 
constant  guest ;  and  often  found,  difficulty  in  eating 
the  large  quantin^  of  food,  which,  on  such  occa- 


# 


.;*•; 


f.:M± 


150 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


>'  » 


&i    % 


h 


I    '. 


•If! 


Wl  J 


i 

^7J 


r: 


sions  as  these,  is  put  upon  each  man's  dish.  The 
Indians  accustom  themselves  both,  to  eat  much, 
and  to  fast  much,  with  facility. 

Several  sacrifices  were  also  offered ;  among  which 
were  dogs,  killed  and  hung  upon  the  tops  of  poles, 
with  the  addition  of  stroud  blankets  and  other  arti- 
cles. These,  also,  were  given  to  the  Great  Spirit, 
in  humble  hope  that  he  would  give  efficacy  to  the 
medicines  employed. 

The  child  died.  To  preserve  the  body  from  the 
wolves,  it  was  placed  upon  a  scaffold,  where  it  re< 
mained  till  we  went  to  the  lake,  on  the  border 
of  which  was  the  burial-ground  of  the  family. 

On  our  arrival  there,  which  happened  in  the  be 
ginning  of  April,  I  did  not  fail  to  attend  the  funeral. 
The  grave  was  made  of  a  large  size,  and  the  whole 
of  the  inside  lined  with  birch-bark.  On  the  bark 
was  laid  the  body  of  the  child,  accompanied  with 
an  axe,  a  pair  of  snow-shoes,  a  small  kettle,  several 
pairs  of  common  shoes,  its  own  strings  of  beads, 
and — because  it  was  a  girl — a  carrying-belt  and  a 
paddle.     The  kettle  was  filled  with  meat. 

AH  this  was  again  covered  with  bark;  and  at 
about  two  feet  nearer  the  surface,  logs  were  laid 
across,  and  these  again  covered  with  bark,  so  that 
the  earth  might  by  no  means  fall  upon  the  corpse. 


# 


iw.] 


ADVENTURES. 


151 


The  last  act  before  the  burial,  performed  by 
the  mother,  crying  over  the  dead  body  of  her 
child,  was  that  of  taking  from  it  a  lock  of  hair, 
for  a  memorial.  While  she  did  this,  I  endea- 
voured to  console  her,  by  offering  the  usual  ar- 
guments ;  that  the  child  was  happy  in  being  re- 
leased from  the  miseries  of  this  present  life,  and 
that  she  should  forbear  to  grieve,  because  it  would 
be  restored  to  her  in  another  world,  happy  and  ever- 
lasting. She  answered,  that  she  knew  it,  and  that 
by  the  lock  of  hair  she  should  discover  her  daugh- 
ter ;  for  she  would  take  it  with  her. — In  diis  she  allu- 
ded to  the  day,  when  some  pious  hand  would  place 
in  her  own  grave,  along  with  the  carrying-belt 
and  paddle,  this  little  relic,  hallo\ired  by  maternal 
tears. 

I  have  frequently  inquired  into  the  ideas  and 
opinions  of  the  Indians,  in  regard  to  futurity,  and 
[always  found  that  they  were  somewhat  different,  in 
different  individuals. 

c 

Some  suppose  their  souls  to  remain  in  this  world, 
[although  invisible  to  human  eyes ;  and  capable, 
[themselves,  of  seeing  and  hearing  their  friends,  and 

io  of  assisting  them,  in  moments  of  distress  and 
iger. 


Others  dismiss  from  the  mortal  scene  the  un- 
^mbodied  spirit,  and  send  it  to  a  distant  world  or 


.-^.. 


152 


TRAVELS,  &G. 


1764; 


l^     V 


Ban  ■^'  *  ^ 

m/i   ^'-'  ^  ■ 

"r'i'    ■'■'Jti-  ' 

111  11^7- 


country,  in  which  it  receives  reivard  or>  pnhlsh. 
ment,  according  to  the  life  wliich  it  lias  led  in  its 
prior  state.  Those  who  have  lived  virtuously  are 
transported  into  a  place  abounding  with  every 
luxury,  with  deer  and  all  other  animals  of  the  woods 
and  water,  and  where  the  earth  produces,  in  their 
greatest  perfection,  all  its  sweetest  fruits.  While, 
on  the  other  hand,  those  who  have  violated  or  neg- 
lected the  duties  of  this  life,  are  removed  to  a  bar. 
ren  soil,  where  they  wander  up  and  down,  among 
rocks  and  morasses,  and  are  stung  by  gnats,  ai 
as  pigeons. 


•  \ 


ti 


/ 


T-      • 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

llruRans  apprehensive  of  an  attack  ffUm  the  En- 
glish— kiil  a  Panther — embark  Jar  HHchUi' 
mackinae.  Author  consulted  as  to  infinhnAtion 
conveyed  to  him  in  Dreams — sells  his  Furs  and 
Peltries,  Indian  taciturnity,  Author*s  Lift 
threatened,  fFawatam  carries  him  from  Fort 
Miehilimackinac,  Dreams  of  Wawatam^s  Wife 
oblige  the  Family  to  remain  at  Isle  aux  Outdrdes, 

WHILE  we  remained  on  the  border  of  the  hfke, 
watch  was  kept  every  night,  iti  th^  apprehenirioii 
)f  a  speedy  attack  from  the  English,  who  were  ex- 
ited to  avenge  the  massacre  of  Miehilimackinac. 
le  immediate  grounds  of  this  apprehension  were 
le  constant  dreams,  to  this  effect,  of  the  more 
kged  women.    I  endeavoured  to  persuade  them 
It  nothing  of  the  kind  would  take  place  ;  but 
:ir  fears  were  not  to  be  subdued. 


Amid  these  alarms,  there  came  a  report  con- 
ig  a  real,  though  less  formidable   enei^y, 
Uscovered  in  our  neighbourhood.     This  was  a 

20 


§km4  '->    ■ 


If  .Sk: 


Jii'liflljL,  :,;v' 


■(:.; 


ri;:,,i^k 


■Pi  ::':^il.:lr' ; 


154 


TRAVELS  AND 


[AD. 


-H. 


^ther,  which  one  of  our  young  men  had  seen, 
ii  and  which  animal  sometimes  attacks  and  carries 
away  the  Indian  children.  Our  camp  was  imme. 
diately  on  the  alert,  and  we  set  off  into  the  woods, 
about  twenty  in  number.  We  had  not  proceeded  | 
more  than  a  mile,  before  the  dogs  found  the  pan.  i 
ther,  and  pursued  him  to  a  tree,  on  which  he  was] 
shot.    He  was  of  a  large  si^e. 

..  S  >  ■ 

On  the  twenty ^fifth  of  April,  we  embarked  for 
Michilimackinac,  At  La  Grande  Traverse,  we  net  I 
a  large  party  of  Indians,  who  appeared  to  labour, 
like  ourselves,  under  considerable  alarm ;  and  who 
dared  proceed  no  further,  lest  they  should  bedt 
stroyed  by  the  English.  Frequent  councils  of  tlit 
united  bands  were  held;  andinterrogationswerecofrl 
tinually  put  to  myself,  as  to  whether  or  not  I  knewl 
of  any  design  to  attack  them.  I  found  that  they  bej 
lieved  it  possible  for  me  to  have  a  fore-knowledgt| 
of  events,  and  to  be  informed  by  dreams  of 
things  doing  at  a  distance. 


Protestations  of  my  ignorance  were  receiveii| 
with  but  litde  satisfaction,  and  incurred  the  suspi'l 
cion  of  a  design  to  conceal  my  knowledge.  Oi| 
this  account  therefore,  or  because  I  saw  them  torj 
inented  with  fears  which  had  nothing  but  imagina^j 
tion  to  rest  upon,  I  told  them,  at  length,  that  I  knei 
itiejrp  was  np  ^emy  to  insult  them  ;  and  that 


If64.3 


ADVENTURfia. 


151 


might  proceed  to  MicMlimadi^inac  whinxit  danger 
from  the  English,  t  further,  and  with  mdre  confi- 
idence,  declared,  that  if  ever  my  Countrymen  re- 
turned to  Michilimackinac,  I  would  recommend 
Idiem  to  their  favour,  on  account  of  the  good  treat-  « 

lent  which  I  had  received  from  them.  Thus  en- 
couraged, they  embarked  at  an  early  hour  the 
lext  morning.  In  crossing  the  bay,  we  experienced 

storm  of  thunder  and  lightening. 

Our  port  was  the  village  of  L'Arbre  Croche, 
^hich  we  reached  in  safety,  aqd  where  we  staid  till 
le  following  day.     At  this  village  we  found  seve- 

persons  who  had  been  lately  at  Michilimackinac, 
id  from  them  we  had  the  satisfaction  of  learning 

It  all  was  quiet  there.  The  jemainderof  our 
>yage  was  therefore  performed  with  confidence. 

I  In  the  evening  of  the  twenty-seventh,  we  landed 
the  fort,  which  now  contained  only  two  French 
kders.  The  Indians  who  had  arrived  before  us 
^re  very  few  in  number  ;  and  by  all  who  were  of 
party,  I  was  used  very  kindly.  I  had  the 
iire  freedom  both  oi'  the  fort  and  camp. 


Watam  and  myself  setUed  our  stock,  and  paid 

debts ;  and  this  done,  I  found  that  my  share 

^hat  was  left  consisted  in  a  hundred  beaver- 

is,  sixty  racoon-skins  and  six  otter,  of  the 


\ 


W"- 


156 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  5, 


:ii  •   1  ■ 


ill';' 


mJ  u 


-■1 M  (<  ' 


!:-'    i'il,' 


lil'ill    "^ 


fMrJi'ffiilili'P"    ■.,'!lA' 


r 


total  V9lue  of  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  doUan, 
With  these  eaminga  of  my  winter's  toil,  I  proposed 
to  piirchase  clothes,  of  which  I  was  much  in  need, 
having  been  six  months  without  a  shirt  r  but,  on  i 
ii^uiring  into  the  prices  of  goods,  I  found  that  aH 
my  funds  would  not  go  far.  I  was  able,  however, 
to  buy  two  shirts,  at  ten  pounds  Of  beaver  each ;  a 
pair  of  leggingSy  or  pantaloons,  of  scarlet  cloth, 
which,  with  the  ribbon  to  garnish  themfashumabbfA 
cost  me  fifteen  pounds  of  be?ver ;  a  blanket,  at 
twenty  pounds  of  beaver ;  and  some  other  articles, 
^t  proportionable  rates.  In  this  manner,  my  wealtkl 
was  soon  reduced ;  but,  not  before  I  had  laid  inil 
good  stock  of  ammunition  and  tobacco.  \  To  tlttl 
use  of  the  latter  I  had  become  much  attached  du-l 
ring  the  winter.  It  \yas  my  principal  recreatioi^l 
after  returning  from  the  chase ;  for  my  com] 
in  the  lodge  were  unaccustomed  to  pass  the  tinxj 
in  conversation.  Among  the  Indians,  the  topics  i 
conversation  are  but  few,  and  limited  for  the  mo 
part,  to  the  transactions  of  the  day,  the  number  i 
animals  which  they  have  killed,  and  of  those  whid 
have  escaped  their  pursuit ;  and  other  incidents! 
the  chase.  Indeed,  the  cau^s  of  taciturnity  amc 
the  Indians,  may  be  easily  understood,  if  we  con 
der  1m)w  many  occasions  of  speech,  which  pi 
sent  themselves  to  us,  are  utterly  unknown 
them  ;  the  records  of  history,  the  pursuits  of  i 
ence,  the  disquisitions  of  philosophy,  the  systen 


1764.] 


ADVENTURES. 


137 


of  politics,  the  business  and  the  amusements  of  the 
day,  and  the  transactions  of  the  four  comers  of 
tlie  world. 


Eight  days  had  passed  in  tranquillity,  wheii 
there  arrived  a  band  of  Indians  from  the  Bay  of 
Saguenaum.  They  had  assisted  at  the  siege  of 
Detroit,  and  came  to  muster  as  many  recruits  for 
that  service  as  they  could.  For  my  own  part,  I 
was  soon  informed,  that  as  I  was  the  only  En^sh* 
man  in  the  place,  they  proposed  to  kill  me,  in  order 
to  give  their  friends  a  mess  of  English  broth,  to 
raise  their  courage. 

This  intelligence  was  not  of  the  most  agreeable 
kind ',  and  in  consequence  of  receiving  it,  I  re- 
quested my  friend  to  carry  me  to  the  Sault  de 
Sainte-Marie,  at  which  place  I  knew  the  Indians  to 
be  peaceably  inclined,  and  that  M.  Cadotte  en- 
joyed a  powerful  in^aence  over  their  conduct. 
They  considered  M.  Cadotte  as  their  chief ;  and 
he  was  not  only  my  friend,  but  a  friend  to  the  En- 
gli^.  It  was  by  him  that  the  Chipeways  of  Lake 
Superior  were  prevented  from  joining  Pontiac. 

Wawatam  was  not  slow  to  exert  himself  for  my 
preservation ;  but,  leaving  Michilimackinac  in  the 


158 


TRAVELS  ANa 


CA.ft 


'.8  }' 


^rt 


P 


111' 


niglit,  tranaported  mjrself  and  all  his  lodge  to  Point 
SaiBt-Ignace»  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  strait. 
Here  we  remained  till  day-light,  and  then  went  into 
the  Bay  of  fioutcHitaouy,  ii;!  which  we  spent  three 
dap  in  fishing  and  hunting,  and  where  we  found 
plenty  of  wild-fowL  Leaving  the  bay,  we  made 
for  the  Isle  aux  Outardes,  where  we  were  obliged 
to  put  in,  on  account  of  die  wind's  coming  ahead. 
We  proposed  sailing  for  the  Sault  the  next 
morning* 

But,  when  the  morning  came,  Wawatam's  wife 
complained  that  she  was  sick,  adding,  that  she 
had  had  bad  dreams,  and  knew  that  if  we  went 
to  the  Sault  we  should  all  be  destroyed.  To 
have  argued,  at  this  time,  against  the  infidlibility 
of  dreams,  would  have  been  extremely  unadvissu 
ble,  since  I  should  have  appeared  to  be  guilty,  not 
only  of  an  odious  want  of  faith,  but  also  of  a  still 
more  odious  want  of  sensibility  to  the  possible  ca- 
lamities of  a  family  which  had  done  so  much  for 
the  alleviation  of  mine.  I  was  silent ;  but  the  dis. 
appointment  seemed  to  seal  my  fate.  No  prospect 
opened  to  console  me.  To  return  to  Michilimack* 
ivjxc  could  only  ensure  my  destruction ;  and  to 
remain  at  the  island  was  to  brave  almost  equal  dan- 
ger, since  it  lay  in  the  direct  route  between  the  fort 


1T«4.] 


ADVENTURER. 


1» 


Alodg;etoPoint 
ie  of  the  strait, 
d  then  went  into 
I  we  spent  three 
where  we  found 
e  bay,  we  made 
we  were  obliged 
s  coming  ahead. 
Sault  the  next 


and  the  Missisaki,  along  which  the  Indians  from 
D6troit  were  hourly  expected  to  p^ss,  on  die  biiti« 
liess  of  their  mission.  I  doubted  not,  but,  tdLiQg 
advantage  of  the  solitary  situation  of  the  fiimi^t 
diey  would  carry  into  execution  their  design  of 
killing  me. 


NVawatam's  wife 
idcQng,  that  she 
that  if  we  went 
destroyed.  To 
It  the  in&llibility 
-emely  unadvisa^ 
to  be  guilty,  not 
but  alsoofastin 
>  the  possible  ca- 
one  so  much  for 
ent;  butthedis- 
te.  No  prospect 
to  Michilimack* 
truction ;  and  to 
ilmost  equal  dan. 
:  between  the  fort 


t 


/ 


«. 

%• 


Ui 


rf»fe,. 


1' 

ll 


m!'h  'IT'-  ' 


III'!;*.];;: 


m 


.i^: 


CHAPTER  XX. 

*    * 

Author  is  again  relieved — takes  leave  qf  Wawatam 
and  his  Family — is  hospitably  received  by  M. 
Cadotte,  at  the  Sault  de  Sainte-Marie-^pursued 
by  the  Indians,  Embassy  from  Sir  fFiUiam 
Johnson.  Deputation  to  Sir  JFHIiam — Author 
to  accompany  it»  Great  Turtle  to  be  cm» 
suited, 

UNABLE  therefore  to  take  any  part  in  the  di- 
rection of  our  course,  but  a  prey  at  the  same  time 
to  the  most  anxious  thoughts  as  to  my  own  condi- 
tion, I  passed  all  the  day  on  the  highest  part,  to 
which  I  could  climb,  of  a  tall  tree,  and  whence  the 
lake,  on  both  sides  of  the  island,  lay  open  to  my 
view.  Here  I  might  hope  to  learn,  at  the  eaiiiest 
possible,  the  approach  of  canoes,  «nd  by  this  means 
be  warned  in  time  to  conceal  myself. 

On  the  second  morning,  I  returned,  a»  soon  as  it 
was  light,  to  my  watch-tower,  on  which  I  had 
not  been  long  before  I  discovered  a  sai),  coming 
from  Michilimackinac. 


ir64.] 


TRAVELS,  fcc. 


161 


The  sp'J  was  a  white  one,  and  much  larger 
than  those  usually  employed  by  the  Northern  In- 
dians. I  therefore  indulged  a  hope  that  it  might 
be  a  Canadian  canoe,  on  its  voyage  ta  Montreal'; 
and  that  I  might  be  able  to  prevail  upon  the  crew 
to  take  me  with  them  and  thus  itlease  me  from  all 
my  troubles. 

My  hopes  continued  to  gain  ground ;    for  I 

I  soon  persuaded  myself  that  the  manner  in  which 

the  paddles  were  used,  on  board  the  canoe,  was  Ca- 

[nadian,  and  nof  Indian.     My  spirits  were  elated ; 

mt,  disappointment  had  become  so  usual  with  me, 

It  I  could  not  suffer  myself  to  look  to  the  event 

4th  any  strength  of  confidence. 


Enough,  however,  appeared  at  length  to  demon- 
strate  itself,  to  induce  me  to  descend  tKe  tree,  and 
;pair  to  the  lodge,  with  my  tidings  and  schemes  of 
liberty.  The  family  congratulated  me  on  the  ap- 
ichofso&ir  an  opportunity  of  escape;  and  my 
ither  and  brother,  (foi^  he  was  alternately  each  of 
;. )  lit  his  pipe,  and  presented  it  to  me,  saying, 
f*  My  son,  this  may  be  the  last  time  that  ever  you 
r  and  I  shall  smoke  out  of  the  same  pipe  !  I  am 
r  sorry  to  part  with  you.  You  know  the  affection 
r  which  I  have  always  borne  you,  and  the  dangers 
I'  to  which  I  have  exposed  myself  and  family,  to 
I*  preserve  you  from  your  enemies ;  and  I  ani  hap- 

21 


162 


TUAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


.:;  r 


'     'I..  ' 


<*  py  to  find  that  my  efforts  promise  not  to  have 
*'  been  in  vain. ''—At  this  time,  a -boy  came  into 
the  lodge,  informing  us  that  the  canoe  had  come 
from  Michilimackinac,  and  was  bound  to  the  Sault 
de  Sainte-Marie.  It  was  manned  by  three  Cana- 
dians, and  was  carrying  home  Madame  Cadotte, 
the  wife  of  M.  Cadotte,  already  mentioned. 

My  hopes  of  going  to  Montreal  being  now  dis- 
sipated, I  resolvc;d  on  accompanying  Madame  Ca- 
dotte, with  her  permission,  to  the  Sault.  On  com- 
municating my  wishes  to  Madame  Cadotte,  she  I 
cheerfully  acceded  to  them.  Madame  Cadotte,  as  i 
I  have  already  mentioned,  was  an  Indian  woman, 
of  the  Chipevvay  nation  ;  and  she  was  very  genej 
rally  respected.  • —  — - 


My  departure  fixed  upon,  I  returned  to  the 
lodge,  where  I  packed  up  my  wardrobe,  consisting 
of  my  two  shirts,  pair  of  leggings  and  blanket  | 
Besides  these,  I  took  a  gun  and  ammunition,  pre 
senting  what  remained  further  to  my  host.  I  also] 
returned  the  silver  arm-bands,  with  which  the  fe 
mily  had  decorated  me,  the  year  before. 


We  now  exchanged  farewells,  with  an  emotion 
entirely  reciprocal.  Idid  not  quit  the  lodge  without 
the  most  grateful  sense  of  the  many  acts  of  good 
ncss  which  I  had  experienced  in  it,  nor  without  tiicl 


ir64.] 


ADVENTURES. 


163 


sincerest  respect  for  tl^e  virtues  which  I  had  wit- 
nessed among  its  menlbers.  All  the  family  accom- 
panied me  to  the  beach ;  and  the  canoe  had  no 
sooner  put  off,  than  Wawatam  commenced  an  ad- 
dress  to  the  Ki'chi'  Ma'ni'to',  beseeching  him  to 
take  care  of  me,  his  brother,  till  we  should  next 
meet.  This,  he  had  told  me,  would  not  be  long, 
as  he  intended  to  return  to  Michiliniackinac  for  a 
short  time  only,  and  would  then  follow  me  to  the 
Sault. — We  had  proceeded  to  too  great  a  distance 
to  allow  of  our  hearing  his  voice,  before  Wawatam 
had  ceased  to  offer  up  his  prayers. 

Being  now  no  longer  in  the  society  of  Indians,  I 

[laid  aside  the  dress,  putting  gn  that  of  a  Canadian  : 

a  molton  or  blanket  coat,  over  my  shirt ;  and  a 

[handkerchief  about  my  head,  hats  being  very  little 

[worn  in  th!s  country. 


At  day-break,  on  the  second  morning  of  our 
voyage,  we  embarked,  and  presently  perceived  se- 
veral canoes  behind  us.  As  they  approached,  we 
ascertained  them  to  be  the  fleet,  bound  for  the  Mis- 
dsaki,  of  which  I  had  been  so  long  in  dread.  It 
amounted  to  twenty  sail. 

On  coming  up  with  us,  and  surrounding  our 

moe,  and  amid  general  inquiries  concerning  the 

lews,  an  Indian  challenged  me  for  an  Englishman, 

id  his  companions  supported  him,  by  declaring 


164 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


if    '' 


_,..., ......,, I'iK       ''"'         ■    ' 


n 


4:1',  iiil;  !'':*•■■' 


that  I  looked  very  like  one  ;  but  I  affected  not  to 
understand  any  of  the  questions  which  they  asked 
me,  ^nd  Madame  Cadotte  assured  them  that  I  was 
a  Canadian,  whom  she  had  brought  on  his  first 
voyage  from  Montreal. 

The  following  day  saw  us  safely  landed  at  the 
Sault,  where  I  experienced  a  generous  welcome  | 
from  M.  Cadotte.  There  were  thirty  warriors  at  j 
this  place,  restrained  from  joining  in  the  war  only  j 
by  M.  Cadotte's  influence. 

Here,  for  five  days,  I  was  once  more  in  pos- 
session  of  tranquillity  ;  but,  on  the  sixth,  a  young 
Indian  came  into  M.  Cadotte's,  saying  that  a  canoe  { 
full  of  warriors  had  just  arrived  from  Michilimack 
inac ;  that  they  had  inquired  for  me  ;  and  that  be  I 
believed  their  intentions  to  be  bad.  Nearly  at  the 
same  time,  a  message  came  from  the  good  chief 
of  the  village,  desiring  me  to  conceal  myself,  until 
he  should  discover  the  views  and  temper  of  the| 
strangers. 

A  garret  was  a  second  time  my  place  of  refuge; 
and  it  was  not  long  before  the  Indians  cametol 
M.  Cadotte's.  My  friend  immediately  informed 
Mut'chi'ki'wish',  their  chief,  who  was  related  tohis 
wife,  of  the  design  imputed  to  them,  of  mischief| 
against  myself.  Mutchikiwish  frankly  acknow- 
ledged  that  they  had  had  such  a  design ;  but  added  I 
that  if  displeasing  to  M.  Cadotte,  it  should  be 


,it  i;-  I'iW! 


iy«4.] 


ADVENTURES. 


165 


abandoned.  He  then  further  stated,  that  their 
errand  was  to  raise  a  party  of  warriors  to  return 
with  them  to  Detroit ;  and  that  it  had  been  their 
intention  to  take  me  with  them. 


In  regard  to  the  principal  of  the  two  objects  thus 
disclosed,  M.  Cadotte  proceeded  to  assemble  all 
die  chiefs  and  warriors  of  the  village  ;  and  these, 
after  deliberating  for  some  time  among  themselves, 
sent  for  the  strangers,  to  whom  both  M.  Cadotte 
and  the  chief  of  the  village  addressed  a  speech.  In 
these  speeches,  after  recurring  to  the  designs  con- 
fessed to  have  been  entertained  against  myself,  who 
was  now  declared  to  be  under  the  immediate  pro- 
tection of  all  the  chiefs,  by  whom  any  insult  I  might 
sustain  would  be  avenged,  the  ambassadors  were 
peremptorily  told,  that  they  might  go  back,  as  they 
came,  none  of  the  young  men  of  this  village  being 
foolish  enough  to  join  them. 

A  moment  after,  a  report  was  brought,  that  a  ca- 
noe had  just  arrived  from  Niagara.  As  this  was  a 
place  from  which  every  one  was  anxious  to  hear 
news,  a  message  was  sent  to  these  fre^h  strangers, 
requesting  them  to  come  to  the  council. 

The  strangers  came  accordingly,  and  being  seat- 
ed, a  long  silence  ensued.  At  length,  one  of  them, 
taking  up  a  belt  of  wampum,  addressed  himself 
thus  to  the  assembly :  "  My  friends  and  brothers, 
"  I  am  come,  with  this  belt,  from  our  great  father. 


'ft',. 


.!»' 

m 


•''^'  If  I.; 


I   111  •■'• 


mm 

m  m  .-«^ ' 

■ill  ilif '  /,    ;4^  .  ^>  ^.  -f  -  i  - 


^i 


166 


TRAVELS,  kc. 


1/64.] 


4( 
ii 
If 
<{ 
« 
<i 
U 
ii 
<( 
(< 
(i 
(t 


Sir  William  Johnson.  Ht  desired  me  to  come 
to  you,  as  his  ambassador,  and  tell  you,  that  he  is 
making  a  great  feast  at  Fort  Niagara ;  that  his 
kettles  are  all  ready,  and  his  fires  lit.  He  invites 
you  to  partake  of  the  feast,  in  common  with  your 
friends,  the  Six  Nations,  which  have  all  made 
peace  with  the.  English.  He  advises  you  to  seize 
this  opportunity  of  doing  the  same,  as  you  cannot 
otherwise  fail  of  being  destroyed ;  for  the  En. 
glishare  on  their  march,  with  a  great  army,  which 
will  be  joined  by  different  nations  of  Indians.  In 
a  word,  before  the  fall  of  the  leaf,  they  will  be  at 
Michilimackinac,  and  the  Six  Nations  with 
them." 


The  tenor  of  this  speech  greatly  alarmed  the 
Indiansof  the  Sault,  who,  after  a  very  short  con- 
sultation, agreed  to  send  twenty  deputies  to  Sir 
William  Johnson,  at  Niagara.  This  was  a  project 
highly  interesting  to  me,  since  it  offered  me  tlie 
means  of  leaving  the  country.  I  intimated  this  to 
the  chief  of  the  village,  and  received  his  promise 
that  I  should  accompany  the  deputation. 

Very  little  time  was  proposed  to  be  lost,  in  set- 
ting forward  on  the  voyage;  but,  the  occasion  was 
of  too  much  magnitude  not  to  call  for  more  than 
human  knowledge  and  discretion  ;  and  prepara- 
tions were  accordingly  made  for  solemnly  invoking 
and  consulting  the  Gr  eat  Tur  t  l  e  . 


1 


^0^'' 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Preparations Jbr  invoking jhe  Great  Turtle. — 
His  voice  is  heard — He  is  questioned.  His  re- 
plies.    Voyage  to  Fort  Niagara  commenced. 

FOR  invoking  and  consulting  the  Great  Turtle, 
the  first  thing  to  be  done  was  the  building  of  a  large 
house  or  wigwam,  within  which  was  placed  a  spe- 
cies of  tent,  for  the  use  of  the  priest,  and  reception 
of  the  sfHrit.  The  tent  was  formed  of  moose- 
skins,  huna;  over  a  frame-work  of  wood.  Five 
poles,  or  rather  pillars,  of  five  different  species  of 
timber,  about  ten  feet  in  height,  and  eight  inches 
in  diameter,  were  set  in  a  circle  of  about  four  feet 
in  diameter.  The  holes  made  to  receive  them  were 
about  two  feet  deep ;  and  the  pillars  being  set, 
the  holes  were  filled  up  again,  with  the  earth  which 
had  been  dug  out.  At  top,  the  pillars  were  bound 
together  by  a  circular  hoop,  or  girder.  Over  the 
whole  of  this  edifice  were  spread  the  moose-skins, 
covering  it  at  top  and  round  the  sides,  and  made 
fast  with  thongs  of  the  same ;  except  that  on  one 
side  d  part  was  left  unfastened,  to  admit  of  theim- 
trance  of  the  priest. 


1^1 


16« 


TRAVELS  AND 


A.D.] 


III.;-   <M  -h       •    '■' 


m 


! 


a  :ij' 


i  'fr  ■')' 


■^f  ■i;?4 


if     y-4": 


J^, 


The  ceremomes  did  not  opmmence  but  with  the 
approach  of  night.  To  give  light  within  the  house^ 
several  fires  were  kindled  round  the  tent.  Nearly 
thewhole  village  assembled  in  the  house,  and  myself 
among  the  rest.  It  was  not  long  before  the  priest 
appeared,  almost  in  a  state  of  nakedness.  As  he 
approached  the  tent  the  skins  were  lifted  up,  as 
much  as  was  necessary  to  allow  of  his  creeping 
under  thein,  on  his  hands  and  knees.  His  head 
was  scarcely  within  side,  when  the  edifice,  massy 
as  it  has  been  described,  began  to  shake  ;  and  the 
»kins  were  no  sooner  let  fall,  than  the  sounds  of  nu- 
merous voices  were  heard  beneath  them ;  some 
yelling ;  some  barking  as  dogs;  some  howling  like 
wolves  :  and  in  this  horrible  concert  were  mingled 
screams  and  sobs,  as  of  despair,  anguish  and  the 
sharpest  pain.  Articulate  speech  was  also  uttered; 
as  if  frotn  human  lips ;  but  in  a  tongue  unknown  to 
any  of  the  audience. 

After  some  time,  these  confused  and  frightful 
noises  were  succeeded  by  a  perfect  silence  ;  and 
now  a  voice,  not  heard  before,  seemed  to  manifest 
the  arrival  of  a  new  character  in  the  tent.  This  wasa 
low  and  feeble  voice,  resembling  the  cry  of  a  young 
puppy.  The  sound  was  no  sooner  distinguished, 
than  ail  the  Indians  clapped  their  handb  Ibr  joy,  ex- 
claiming, tliat  this  was  the  Chief  Spirit,  the  'I'us 
-TLE,  the  spirit  that  never  lied!  Other  voices,  which 
they  had  discriminated  from  time  to  time,  tiiev 


1  il'^'i™  I 'J 


ir«4.] 


ADVENTURES. 


169 


had  pireviously  hissed,  as  recognising  them  to 
belong  to  evil  and  lying  spirits,  which  deceive  man- 
kind. 

New  sounds  came  from  the  tent.  During  the 
space  of  half  an  hour,  a  succession  of  songs  were 
heard,  in  which  a  diversity  of  voices  me^  the  ear. 
From  his  first  entrance^  till  these  songs  were 
finished,  we  heard  nothing  in  the  proper  voice  of 
the  priest ;  but,  now,  he  addressed  the  multitude, 
declaring  the  presence  of  the  Great  Turtle, 
and  the  spirit's  readiness  to  answer  such  questions 
as  should  be  proposed. 

The  questions  were  to  come  from  the  chief  of 
the  village,  who  was  silent,  however,  till  after  he 
had  put  a  large  quantity  of  tobacco  into  the  tent, 
introducing  it  at  the  aperture.  This  was  a  sacri- 
fice, offered  to  the  spirit ;  for  spirits  are  supposed 
by  the  Indians  to  be  as  fond  of  tobacco  as  them- 
selves. The  tobacco  accepted,  he  desired  the  priest 
to  inquire,  Whether  or  not  the  English  were  pre- 
paring to  make  war  upon  the  'Indians  ?  and, 
Whether  or  not  there  were  at  Fort  Niagara  a 
large  number  of  English  troops  ? 

These  questions  having  been  put  by  the  priest, 
the  tent  instantly  shook ;  and  for  some  seconds' 
after,  it  continued  to  rock  so  violently,  that  I  ex- 

22 


■.^, 


170 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


jpectfid  to  see  it  levelled  with  the  grouiM.     All 

'^hh  w«9  a  prelude,  as  I  su]>po6ed,  to  the  answers 

to  be  given  ;  but,  a  ten  iiic  cry  announced,  with 

sufficient  ii\|^lligibility,  the  departure  of  the  Tur. 

TtB. 


A  quarter  of  an  hour  elapsed  in  ailence,  and  | 
waited  impatient^  to  di^ver  what  was  to  be  the 
next  incident,  in  this  scene  of  impositiu^.  It  con. 
bistcd  in  the  retuni  pf  the  spirit,  whose  voice  was 
again  heard,  and  who  now  delivered  a  continued 
speech.  The  kmguage  of  the  GtKAT  Turtle, 
like  tliat  which  we  had  heard  before,  was  wliolly 
unintelligible  to  every  ear,  that  of  his  priest  ex- 
cepted; and  it  was,  therefore,  that  not  till  the 
latter  gave  us  an  interpretation,  which  did  not 
commence  before  the  spirit  had  finished,  that  wc 
lefir»ed  the  purport  of  this  extraordinary  commu 
ttication. 


The  spirit,  as  we  were  now  informed  by  tlie 
IH'icst,  had,  during  his  vshort  absence,  crossed  Lake 
Huron,  and  even  proceeded  as  far  as  Fort  Niagam, 
which  i^  at  the  head  of  Lake  Ontario,  and  thence 
to  Montreal.  At  Fort  Niaj»ai-a,  he  had  seen  no 
great  number  of  soldiers  ;  but,  on  descending  tlie 
Saint  Lawrence,  as  low  as  Montreal,  he  had  found 
the  river  covered  with  bouts,  and  the  boats  filled 
with  soldiers,  in  number  like  the  leaves  of  the 


«.- 


ir«4.] 


ADVENTURES* 


in 


trees.  He  had  met  them  on  their  way  up  the  river, 
eoming  to  make  war  upon  the  Indians. 

The  chief  had  a  third  question  to  propose,  and 
the  spirit,  without  a  fresh  journey  to  Fort  Niagara, 
was  able  to  give  it  an'  instant  and  most  favoumble 
answer :  **  If,"  said  the  chief,  **  the  Indians  visit 
^  Sir  William  Joluison,  will  they  be  received  as 
"  friends  ?"  '  ■ 

*<  Sir  WiUiam  Johnson,"  said  the  spirit,  (and  af^ 
ter  thes{»rit,  the  pnest.)  *<  Sir  William  Johnson 
*'  will  fill  their  canoes  v/iih  presents ;  with  blankets,  ' 
*i  kettles,  guns,  gun-powder  and  shot,  and  large 
^*  barrels  of  rum,  such  as  the  stoutest  of  the  In- 
*'  dians  will  not  be  able  to  lift ;  and  every  man  will 
**  return  in  safety  to  his  family.** 

At  this,  the  transport  was  universal ;  and,  amid 
the  clapping  of  hands,  a  hundred  voices  exclaimed, 
*'  I  will  go,  too !  I  will  go,  ttK) !" 

The  questions  of  public  interest  being  resolved, 
individuals  were  now  permitted  to  aeize  the  op- 
portunity of  inquiring  into  the  condition  of 
their  absent  friends,  and  the  fate  of  such  as 
were  sick.  I  observed  that  the  answers,  given  to 
these  questions,  allowed  of  much  latitude  of  inter- 
pretation. 


'^ 


II 

A*  I 
I 


172 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


f.''i!* 


'ti  li      1  i'Jn       '•rf 

I  ];■■  ■ 


Amid  this  general  inquisitiveness,  I  yielded  to 
the  solicitations  of  my  own  anxiety  for  the  future ; 
and  having  first,  like  the  rest,  made  my  offering  of 
tobacco,  I  inquired,  whether  or  not  I  should  ever 
revisit  my  native  country^?  The  question  be. 
ing  put  by  the  priest,  the  tent  shook  as  usual ; 
after  which  I  received  this  answer:  "  That  I 
*'  should  take  courage,  and  fear  no  danger,  for  that 
"  nothing  would  happen  to  hurt  me  ;  and  that  I> 
*'  should,  in  the  end,  reach  my  friends  and  country 
"  in  safety."  These  assurances  wrought  so  strong. 
]y  on  my  gratitude,  that  I  presented  an  additional 
and  extra  offering  of  tobacco. 

The  Great  Turtle  continued  to  be  consult- 
ed  till  near  midnight,  when  all  the  crowd  dispersed 
to  their  respective  lodges.  I  was  on  the  watch, 
tlu-ough  the  scene  I  have  described,  to  detect  the 
particular  contrivances  by  which  the  fraud  was  car- 
ried on  ;  but,  such  was  the  skill  displayed  in  the 
performance,  or  such  my  deficiency  of  penetration, 
that  I  made  no  discoveries,  but  came  away  as  I 
went,  with  no  more  than  those  general  surmises 
which  will  naturally  be  entertained  by  every 
reader.* 


liit  'ill      'V- 

lit);    (j9p»4        h  ^    4      , 

,,  J  mh 


*.AI.  de  Champlain  has  left  an  account  of  an  exhibition  of 
ty.e  nature  here  described,  vrhich  may  be  seen  in  Charle- 
voix's Histoire  et  Description  Generale  de  la  Nouvelle 
France,  livre  IV.  This  took  place  in  the  year  1 609,  and 
was  performed  among  a  p^rty  of  warriors,  composed  of  Al* 


1764.] 


ADVENTURES. 


173 


On  the  10th  of  June,  I  embarked  with  the  Indian 
deputation,  composed  of  sixteen  men.  Twenty 
had  been  the  number  originally  designed ;  and  up- 
ward of  fifty  actually  engaged  themselves  to  the 
council  for  the  undertaking  ;  to  say  nothing  of  the 
general  enthusiasm,  at  the  moment  of  hearing  the 
Great  Tur tie's  promises.  But,  exclusively  of 
the  degree  of  timidity  which  still  prevailed,  we  are 
to  take  into  account  the  various  domestic  calls, 
which  might  supersede  all  others,  and  detain  many 
mih  their  fiimilies. 


gonquins,  Montagnez  and  Hurons.  Carver  idtnessed  anc- 
ther,  among  the  Ciistinaux.  In  each  case}  the  details  are 
somewhat  different,  but  the  outline  is  the  same.  M.  de  Cham- 
plain  mentions,  that  he  saw  iht  jongleur  shake  the  stakes  or 
pillars  of  the  tent.  I  was  not  so  fortunate  ;  but,  this  is  the 
obvious  explanation  of  that  part  of  the  mystery  to  which  it 
refers.    Captain  Carver  leaves  the  whole  in  darkness. 


fr''*' 


I'll! 


wm 


•k    a- 


>i 


i:  i  f  i 


Vi'  *' 


(■M.;i  ^, 


5'    i 


I  " '/  •  I   , 


-       -ii/J- 


It'li 


;i. ' 


iii,-     Ji* 


!  I'll 

-.4  -        J^. 


CHAPTER  XXlI. 

Voyage  from  the  Sault  de  Sainte-Marie  to  Nhgaro^ 
Hospitable  reception  from  the  Missisakies.  Au- 
thor alarmed  by  a  Hattle-snake-^and  is  about  to 
kill  it,  Indians  interfere^^eclare  it  to  be  a 
Manito — treat  it  accordingly.  Inoffensive  de- 
meanour cf  the  Ratth'Snake.  Indians  appre- 
hend some  evil  from  the  Author'' s  crime  against 
the  Manito,  Overtaken  by  a  gale  qf  TviruL 
Prayers  and  Sacrifices  to  the  Rattle*snake.  Ar- 
rive at  Fort  Nie^ara, 

IN  the  evening  of  the  secqnd  day  of  our  voyage, 
we  reached  the  mouth  of  the  Missisaki,  where  wr 
found  about  forty  Indians,  by  whom  we  vTrt 
received  with  abundant  kindness,  and  at  nigfat 
regaled  at  a  great  feast,  held  on  account  of  our 
Sirrival.  The  viand  was  a  preparation  of  the  roe  of 
the  sturgeon,  beat  up,  and  boiled,  and  of  the  con- 
sistence of  porridge. 

After  eating,  several  speeches  were  made  to  us, 
of  which  the  general  topic?  was  a  request,  that  mt 


ir64.] 


»f 


TRAVELS,  Ice. 


IT! 


should  recommend  the  village  to  Sir  WiOiBm 
Johnson.  This  request  was  also  specially  address- 
ed to  me,  and  I  promised  to  comply  with  it. 

On  tlie  14th  of  June,  we  passed  the  village  of 
La  Cloche,  of  which  the  greater  part  of  the  inhabi* 
tsfxita  were  absent,  ^ing  already  on  a  visit  to  Sir 
William  Johnson.  This  circumstance  greatly  en* 
couraged  the  companions  of  my  voyage,  who  now 
saw  that  they  were  not  the  first  to  run  into  danger. 

The  next  day,  about  noon,  the  wind  blowing  very 
hard,  we  were  obliged  to  put  ashore  at  Point  aux 
Grondines,  a  place  of  which  some  description  has 
been  given  above.  While  the  Indians  erected  a 
hut,  I  employed  myself  in  making  a  fire.  As  I  waa 
gathering  wood,  an  unusual  sound  fixed  my  atten- 
tion for  a  moment ;  but,  as  it  presently  ceased, 
I  and  as  I  saw  nothing  firom  which  I  could  suppose 
jit  to  proceed,  I  continued  my  employment,  tiU, 
adrancing  further,  I  was  alarmed  by  a  repetition. 
I  imagined  that  it  came  irom  above  my  head ; 
but,  after  looking  that  way  in  vain,  I  cast  my 
ryes  on  the  ground,  and  there  discovered  a  rattle- 
[bnake,  at  not  more  than  two  feet  from  my  na- 

d  legs.  The  reptile  was  coiled,  and  its  head 
Iraised  considerably  aboAx  its  body.  Had  I  ad- 
[vanced  another  step  before  my  discovery,  I  must 
have  trodden  upon  it. 


-j^pp^- 


176 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


I  no  sooner  saw  the  snake,  than  I  hastened  to 
the  canoe,  in  order  to  procure  my  gun  ;  but,  the 
Indians  observing  what  I  was  doing,  inquired  the 
occasion,  and  being  informed,  begged  me  tode. 
sist.  At  the  same  time,  they  followed  me  to  the 
spot,  with  their  pipes  and  tobacco-pouches  in  their 
hands.  On  returning,  I  fdbnd  the  snake 
coiled. 


]ih 


Wii  t: 


^m^ 


If 


u 


f^ 


The  Indians,  on  their  part,  surrounded  it,  all 
addressing  it  by  turns,  and  calling  it  their  ^amJL 
father  ;  but  }ret  keeping  at  some  distance.  Du- 
ring this  part  of  the  ceremony,  they  filled  their 
pipes  ;  and  now  each  blew  the  smoke  toward  the 
snake,  who,  as  it  appeared  to  me,  really  received  it 
with  pleasure.  In  a  word,  after  remaining  coiled, 
and  receiving  incense,  for  the  space  of  half  an  hour, 
it  stretched  itself  along  the  ground,  in  visible  good 
humour.  Its  length  was  between  four  and  five 
feet.  Having  remained  outstretched  for  some  time, 
at  last  it  moved  slowly  away,  the  Indians  following 
it;  and  still  addressing  it  by  the  title  of  grand-fii- 
ther,  beseeching  it  to  take  care  of  their  families 
jduring  their  absence,  and  to  be  pleased  to  open  the 
heart  of  Sir  William  Johnson,  so  that  he  might 
shcfw  them  charity,  and  fill  their  canoe  with  rum. 

One  of  the  chiefs  added  a  petition,  that  the  snake 
would  take  no  notice  of  the  insult  which  had  been 


&■•.    M: 


»; 


1764.] 


ADVENTURES. 


177 


offered  him  by  the  Englishman,  who  would  even 
have  put  him  to  death,  but  for  the  interference  of 
the  Indians,  to  whom  it  was  hoped  he  would  im- 
pute no  part  of  the  offence.  They  further  request- 
ed, 'that  he  would  remain,  and  inhabit  their  coun- 
try, and  not  return  among  the  Englisli ;  that  is,  go 
eastward. 

After  the  rattle-snake  was  gone,  I  learned  that 
[this  was  the  first  time  that  an  individual  of  the  spc- 
Icies  had  been  seen  so  far  to  the  northward  and 
westward  of  the  river  Des  Fran9ais ;  a  circum- 
jstance,   moreover,  from  which  my  companions 
^ere  disposed  to  infer,  that  this  manito  had  come, 
)r  been  sent,  on  purpose  to  meet  them  ;  that  his 
errand  had  been  no  other  than  to  stop  them  on  their 
i'dy ;  and  that  consequently  it  would  be  mostadvisa- 
)le  to  return  to  the  point  of  departure.  I  was  so  for- 
mate, however,  as  to  preyail  with  them  to  em- 
rk  ;  and  at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening  we  again 
[ncamped.     Very  little  was   spoken  of  through 
le  evening,  the  ratde- snake  excepted. 

Early  the  next  morning  we  proceeded.     We 

id  a  serene  sky  and  very  little  v.dnd,  and  the  In- 

|ians  therefore  determined  on  steering  across  the 

[e,  to  an  island  which  just  appeared  in  the  hori- 

lon  ;  saving,  by  this  course,  a  distance  of  thirty 

liles,  which  would  be  lost  in  keeping  the  shore. 


13 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


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fliotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14S80 

(716)872-4503 


^'4^ 


'^ 


178 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


At  nine  o'clock,  A.  M.  we  had  a  light  breeze 
astern,  to  enjoy  the  benefit  of  which  we  hoisted 
sail.     Soon  after,  the  wind  increased,  and  the  In- 
dians, begmning  to  be  alarmed,  frequently  called 
on  the  rattle-snake  to  come  to  their  assistance.   By 
degrees  the  waves  grew  high  ;  and  at  11  o'clock  it 
blew  a  hurricane,  and  we  expecteu  every  moment 
to  be  swallowed  up.     From  prayers,  the  Indians 
now  proceeded  to  sacrifices,  both  alike  offered  to 
the  god  rattlesnake,   or  manito-kinibic.      One  of 
the  chiefs  took  a  dog,  and  after  tying  its  fore  legs 
together,  threw  it  overboard,  at  the  same  time 
c^ing  on  the  snake  to  preserve  us  from  being 
drowned,  and  desiring  him  to  satisfy  his  hunger 
with  the  carcass  of  the  dog.     The  snake  was  un- 
propitious,  and  the  wind  increased.    Another  chief 
sacrificed  another  dog,  wiUi  the  addition  of  some 
tobacco.     In  the  prayer  which  accompanied  these 
gifts,  he  besought  the  snake,  as  before,  not  to  avenge 
upon  the  Indians  the  insult  which  he  had  received 
from  myself,  in  the  conception  of  a  design  to  put 
him  to  death.    He  assured  the  snake,  that  I  was 
absolutely  an  Englishman,  and  of  kin  neither  to  him 
nor  to  them. 


At  the  conclusion  of  tliis  speech,  an  Indian,  who 
sat  near*  me,  observed,  that  if  we  were  drowned  it 
would  be  for  my  fault  alone,  and  that  I  ought  my- 
self to  be  sacrificed,  to  api)ease  the  an^ry  manito ; 


1764.] 


ADVENTURES. 


179 


nor  was  I  without  apprehensions,  that  in  case  of  ex- 
tremity, this  would  be  my  fate  ;  but,  happily  for 
me,  the  storm  at  length  abated,  and  we  reached  the 
island  safely. 

The  next  day  was  calm,  and  we  arrived  at  the 
entrance*  of  the  navigation  which  leads  to  Lake 
aux  Claies.f  We  presently  passed  two  short  car- 
rj'ing-places,  at  each  of  which  were  several  lodges 
of  Indians,  J  containing  only  women  and  children, 
the  men  being  gone  to  the  council  at  Niagara. 
From  this,  as  from  a  former  instance,  my  compa- 
nions derived  new  courage. 

On  the  18th  of  June,  we  crossed  Lake  aux 
Claies,  which  appeared  to  be  upward  of  twenty 
miles  in  length.  At  its  further  end,  we  came  to 
the  carrying-place  of  Toranto.§     Here  the  In- 

*  This  is  the  Bay  of  Matchedash,  or  Matchitashk. 

tThis  lakCf  which  is  now  called  Lake  Simcoe)  lies  be- 
tween Lakes  Huron  and  Ontario.  ,  ^ 

\  These  Indians  are  Chipeways,  of  the  particular  descrip- 
tion called  Missisakies ;  and  from  their  residence  at  Matche- 
dash, or  Matchitashk)  also  called  Matchedash,  or  Matchi- 
tashk Indians.  < 

^  Toranto,  or  Toronto,  is  the  name  of  a  French  trading- 
house,  on  Lake  Ontario,  built  near  the  site  of  the  present 
town  of  York,  the  capital  of  the  province  of  Upper  Canada. 


■ » 


180 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


^  >i\ 


dians  obliged  me  to  carry  a  burden  of  more  than  a 
hundred  pounds  weight.  The  day  was  very  hot, 
and  the  woods  and  marshes  abounded  with  mosqui- 
toes ;  but,  the  Indians  w  Jked  at  a  quick  pace,  and 
I  could  by  no  means  see  myself  left  behind.  The 
whole  country  was  a  thick  forest,  through  which 
our  only  road  was  a  foot-path,  or  such  as,  in  Ame- 
rica, is  exclusively  termed  an  Indian  path* 


\\^  ' 


I'  '  II 


J^'ii 


Next  morning,  at  ten  o'clock,  we  reached  the 
shore  of  Lake  Ontario.  Here  we  were  employed 
two  days  in  making  canoes,  out  of  the  bark  of 
the  elm-tree,  in  which  we  were  to  transport  our- 
selves to  Niagara?  For  this  purpose,  the  Indians 
first  cut  down  a  tree  ;  then  stripped  off  the  bark,  in 
one  entire  sheet,  of  about  eighteen  feet  in  length, 
the  incision  being  lengthwise.  The  canoe  was 
now  complete,  as  to  its  top,  bottom  and  sides.  Its 
ends  were  next  closed,  by  sewing  the  bark  toge- 
ther ;  and  a  few  ribs  and  bars  being  introduced,  the 
architecture  was  finished.  In  this  manner,  we  made 
two  canoes  ;  of  which  one  carried  eight  men,  and 
the  other,  nine. 


On  the  21st,  we  embarked  at  Toranto,  and  en- 
camped,  in  the  evening,  four  miles  short  of  Fort 
Niagara,  which  the  Indians  would  not  approach  till 
morning.  ^ 


1764.] 


ADVE^JTURES. 


181 


At  dawn,  the  Indians  were  awake,  and  presently 
assembled  in  council,  still  doubtful  as  to  the  fate 
they  were  to  encounter.  I  assured  them  of  the 
most  friendly  welcome  ;  and  at  length,  after  paint- 
ing themselves  with  the  most  lively  colours,  in 
token  of  their  own  peaceable  views,  and  after  sing- 
ing the  song  which  is  ip  use  among  them  on  going 
into  danger,  they  embarked,  and  made  for  Point 
Missisaki,  which  is  on  the  north  side  of  the  mouth 
of  the  river  or  strait  of  Niagara,  as  the  fort  is  on 
the  south.  A  few  minutes  after,  I  crossed  over  to 
the  fort ;  and  here  I  was  received  by  Sir  William 
Johnson,  in  a  manner  for  which  I  have  ever  been 
gratefully  attached  to  his  persoft,  and  memory. 


Thus  was  completed  my  escape,  from  the  suf- 
ferings and  dangers  which  the  capture^  of  Fort 
Michilimackinac  brought  upon  me  ;  but,  the  pro- 
perty which  I  had  carried  into  the  upper  country 
was  left  behind.  The  reader  will  therefore  be  far 
from  attributing  to  me  any  idle  or  unaccountable 
motive,  when  he  finds  me  returning  to  the  scene  of 
my  misfortunes. 


v'Ji^4 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


I.   i.f 


M 


iflnlfi 


'^  ,>••*« 


Army^  under  General  Bradstreet,  prepares  to 
raise  the  Siege  of  Detroit.  Author  induced  to 
joint  ond  set  outy  a  second  time,  for  Michilimacki' 
nac — appointed  to  the  command  of  an  Indiari 
Corps.  Siege  of  DHroit  raised.  General 
Peace  with  the  Indians,  Detachment  garri- 
sons Fort  Michilimackinac,  Author  visits  the 
Sault  de  Sainte-Marie-^returns  to  Mtchilimack- 
inde,  /      ' 

AT  Fort'Niagara,  I  found  General  Bradstreet, 
with  a  force  of  three  thousand  men,  preparing  to 
embark  for  D6troit,  with  a  view  to  raise  the 
siege  which  it  had  sustained  against  Pontiac,  for 
twelve  months  together.  The  English,  in  this 
time,  had  lost  many  men ;  and  Pontiac  had  been 
frequently  on  the  point  of  carrying  the  place, 
though  gallantly  defended  by  Major  Gladwyn,  its 
commandant.  v 

General  Bradstreet,  having  learned  my  histor}^ 
informed  me,  that  it  was  his  design,  on  arriving  at 
Detroit,  to  detach  a  body  of  troops  to  Michili- 
mackina*,  and  politely  assured  me  of  his  services, 


1764.] 


TRAVELS,  8cc. 


r 


183 


in  recovering  my  property  there.     With  these 
temptations  before  me,  I  was  easily  induced  to  fol- 


s  services, 


low  the  general  to  Detroit. 


But,  I  was  not  to  go  as  a  mere  looker-on.  On 
the  contrary,  I  was  invested  with  the  honour  of 
a  command  in  a  corps,  of  the  exploits,  however, 
of  which,  I  can  give  no  very  flattering  account. 

Besides  the  sixteen  Saulteurs,  or  Chipeways  of 
the  Sauk  de  Sainte- Marie,  with  whom  I  had  come 
to  Fort  Niagara,  there  were  already  at  that  place 
eighty  Matchedash  Indians,  the  same  whose  lodges 
we  passed,  at  "the  carrying-places  of  Lake  aux 
Claies.  These  ninety-six  men  being  formed  into 
what  was  called  the  Indian  Battalion,  were  furnish- 
ed with  necessaries  ;  and  I  was  appointed  to  be 
their  leader — me,  whose  best  hope  it  had  very  lately 
been,  to  live  through  their  forbearance. 

On  the  10th  of  July,  the  army  marched  for  Fort 
Schlausser,  a  stockaded  post  above  the  Great  Falls ; 
and  I  ordered  my  Ind'^ans  to  march  also.  Only  ten, 
of  the  whole  number,  were  ready  at  the  call ;  byt 
the  rest  promised  to  follow  the  next  morning. 
With  my  skeleton-battalion,  therefore,  I  proceeded 
to  the  fiM-t,  and  there  waited  the  whole  of  the  next 
day,  impatiently  expecting  the  remainder.  I  waited 
in  vain ;  and  the  day  following  returned  to  Fort  Nia- 
gara, when  I  found  that  they  had  all  deserted,  going 


mil' 


;i^ 


'"iu 


184 


TRAVELS  AND 


LA.D. 


back  t(v  their  homes,  equipments  and  all,  by 
the  way  of  Toranto.  I  thought  their  conduct, 
though  dishonest,  not  very  extraordinary;  sinbe 
the  Indians  employed  in  the  siege  of  Detroit, 
against  whom  we  were  leading  them,  were  at 
peace  with  their  nation,  and  their  own  friends  and 
kinsmen. — Amid  the  general  desertion,  four  Mis- 
sisakies  joined  the  ten  whom  I  had  left  at  Fort 
Schlausser. 


mmmi 


For  the  transport  of  the  army,  on  Lake  Erie, 
barges  had  been  expressly  built,  capable  of  carry- 
ing a  hundred  men  each,  with  their  provisions. 
One  of  these  was  allowed  to  me  and  my  Indians. 

On  the  14th,  we  embarked  at  Fort  Schlausser, 
and  in  the  evening  encamped  at  Fort  Erie.  Here 
the  Indians  growing  drunk,  amused  themselves 
witfi  a  disorderly  firing  of  their  muskets,  in  the 
camp.  On  this.  General  Bradstreet  ordered  all  the 
rum  in  the  Indian  quarters  to  be  seized,  and  thrown 
SLWzy.  The  Indians,  inconsequence,  threatened 
to  desert ;  and  the  general,  judging  it  proper  to 
assume  a  high  tone,  immediately  assembled  the 
chiefs,  (for,  among  the  fourteen  Indians,  there  were 
more  chiefs  than  one,)  and  told  them,  that  he  had 
no  further  occasion  for  their  services,  and  that  such 
of  them  as  should  follow  his  camp,  would  be  consi- 
dered as  soldiers,  and  subjected  to  military  disci- 
pline accordingly.      After  hearing  the  general's 


LA.D. 

aU,  by 
conduct, 
y ;  sinbe 
Detroit, 
were  at 
lends  and 
bur  Mis- 
i  at  Fort 


^ake  Erie, 
e  of  carry- 
)rovisions. 
Indians. 

khlausser, 
lie.    Here 
themselves 
its,  in  the 
ered  all  the 
and  thrown 
threatened 
proper  to 
:mbled  the 
there  were 
that  he  had 
\d  that  such 
|d  be  consi- 
itary  disci- 
le  general's 


ir«4.] 


ADVENTURES. 


185 


speech,  the  majority  set  out  for  Fort  Niagara,  the 
same  evening,  and  thence  returned  to  their  own 
country,  by  the  way  of  Toranto ;  and  thus  was  my 
poor  battalion  still  further  diminished  ! 

On  our  fifth  day  from  Fort  Schlausser,  we 
reached  Presqu*isle,  where  we  dragged  our  barges 
over  the  neek  of  land,  but  not  without  straining 
their  timbers ;  and  with  more  loss  of  time,  as  I  be- 
lieve, than  if  we  had  rowed  round.  On  the  twen- 
tieth day,  we  were  off  the  mouth  of  the  river  which 
falls  into  Sandusky  Bay,  where  a  council  of  war  was 
held,  on  the  question,  whether  it  were  more  advisa- 
ble to  attack  ar.d  destroy  the  Indian  villages,  on  the 
Miami,  or  to  proceed  for  Detroit  direct.  Early  the 
next  morning,  it  having  been  determined,  that  con- 
sidering the  villages  were  populous,  as  well  as  hos- 
tile, it  was  necessary  to  destroy  them,  we  entered 
the  Miami;  but  were  presently  met  by  a  deputation^ 
offering  peace.  The  offer  was  accepted ;  but  it 
was  not  till  after  two  days,  during  which  we  had 
begun  to  be  doubtful  of  the  enemy*s  intention,  that 
the  chiefs  arrived.  When  they  came,  a  sort  of  ar- 
mistice was  agreed  upon  ;  and  diey  promised  to 
meet  the  general  at  Detroit,  within  fifteen  days. 
At  that  place,  terms  of  peace  were  to  be  settled,  in  a 
general  council.  On  the  8th  of  August,  we  landed 
at  Detroit. 

24 


/* 


HSim 


\  ^^' 


J<Y-!^- 


186 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  R 


The  Indians  of  the  Miami  were  punctual ;  and  a 
general  peace  was  concluded.  Pontiac,  who  could 
do  nothing  against  the  force  which  was  now  oppo- 
sed to  him,  and  who  saw  himself  abandoned  by  his 
followers,  unwilling  to  trust  his  fortunes  >vith  the 
English,  fled  to  tlie  Illinois.* 

On  the  day  following  that  of  the  treaty  of 
peace,  Captain  Howard  was  detached,  with  two 
companies,  and  three  hundred  Canadian  volun- 


*.  /  * 


♦  It  is  very  possible^  nevertheless,  that  Pontiac  subse- 
quently joined  the  English,  and  that  a  portion  of  what  is  re^ 
lated  by  Carver,  concerning  his  latter  history  and  death,  b 
true.  It  cannot,  however,  be  intended  to  insinuate,  that  an 
English  governor  was  paity  to  the  assassination : 

**  Pontiac  henceforward  seemed  to  have  laid  aside  the 
(*  animosity  he  had  hitherto  borne  towards  the  ilnglish,  and 
«  apparendy  became  their  zealous  friend.  To  reward  tliis 
"  new  attachment,  and  to  insure  a  continuance  of  it,  govern- 
*<  ment  allowed  him  a  handsome  pension.  But  his  restle&s 
«  and  intriguing  spirit  would  not  suffer  him  to  be  g^teful 
«  for  this  allowance,  and  his  conduct  at  length  grew  suspi- 
((  cious  ;  so  that  going,  in  the  year  1767,  to  hold  a  cotmcil 
<'  in  the  country  of  the  Illinois,  a  faithful  Indian^  who  was 
*<  either  commissioned  by  one  of  the  English  governors,  or 
**  instigated  by  the  love  he  bore  the  English  nation,  attended 
<*  him  as  a  spy  ;  and  being  convinced  from  the  speech  Pen- 
<*  tiac  made  Li  the  council,  that  he  still  retained  his  former 
<<  prejudices  ag^nst  those  for  whom  he  now  professed  a 
**  friendship,  he  plimged  his  knife  into  his  hcartf  as  soon  as 
^'^  he  had  done  speakings  and  laid  him  dead  on  the  spot.'* 


[A.  n. 

al;  and  a 
vho  could 
low  oppo- 
led  by  his 
9^ith  the 


:  treaty  of 
,  with  two 
lian  volun- 

>ontiac  subsc- 
of  what  is  re- 
f  and  death,  is 
inuate,  that  an 
n: 

\M  aside  the 
le  Engtish,  and 
To  re^»%rd  this 
e  of  it,  goxcrn- 
iut  his  rcsae&s 
to  be  grateful 
grew  suspi- 
hold  a  council 
Indian,  who  was 
ih  governors,  or 
nation,  attended 
le  speech  Pon- 
ined  lu8  former 
kow  professed  a 
icart,  as  soon  as 
>n  the  spot." 


1764.] 


ADVENTURES. 


187 


teers,  for  Fort  Michilimackinac  ;  and  I  embarked 
at  the  same  time 

From  D6troit,  to  the  m6uth  of  Lake  Huron, 
is  called  a  distance  of  eighty  miles.  From  the 
fort  to  Lake  Sainte-Claire,  which  is  only  seven 
miles,  the  lands  are  cultivated  on  both  sides  the 
strait,  and  appeared  to  be  laid  out  in  very  com- 
fortable farms.  In  the  strait,  on  the  right  hand,  is 
a  village  of  Hurons,  and  at  the  mouth  of  Lake 
Sainte-Claire,  a  village  of  Otawas.  We  met  not  a 
single  Indian  on  our  voyage,  the  report  of  the 
arrival  of  the  English  army  having  driven  everj^ 
one  from  the  shores  of  the  lake. 

On  our  arrival  at  Michilimackinac,  the  Otawas 
of  L' Arbre  Croche  were  sent  for  to  the  fort.  They 
obeyed  the  summons,  bringing  with  them  some 
Chipeway  chiefs,  and  peace  was  concluded  with 
both. 

For  myself,  having  much  property  due  to  me  at 
Sainte- Marie's,  I  resolved  on  spending  the'winter 
at  that  place.  I  was  in  part  successful ;  and  in  the 
spring  I  returned  to  Michilimackinac. 


THE  pause,  which  I  shall  here  make  in  my  nar- 
rative, might  with  some  propriety  have  been  pla- 


188 


TRAVELS,  8cr. 


[ir64. 


ced  at  the  conclusion  of  the  preceding  chapter ; 
but,  it  is  here  that  my  first  series  of  adventures  are 
brought  truly  to  an  end.  What  remains,  belongs 
to  a  second  enterprize,  wholly  independent  on  the 
preceding. 


f,Sl>   OF   PAkT  T|IE  F4RS1-. 


/ 


[1764. 


!     ■ 


;  chapter ; 
:ntures  arc 
IS,  belongs 
ent  on  the 


i^-*;. 


% 


it  .:j>  . 


PART  THE  SECOND. 


igiii 


H 


S^'l 


&,-. 


fi 


wWm 


t 


th 


m 


TRAVELa 

AND  ADVENTURES, 

1»ART  tHE  SECOKO 


CHAPTER  I. 

fiir-trade permitted  only  to  licensed  andprwilegei 
persona.  Author  obtains  the  exclusive  trode  if 
Lake  Superior,  Further  commercial  details  qf 
Michikmackinac*  Author  proceeds  to  the  Sault 
de  Sainte-Marie-^embarks  Jbr  his  H^ntering' 
ground  at  Chagouemig,  Grave  qf  the  Iroquois 
-^tradition,  Hvver  Ontonagon*^  Sturgeon-Jish- 
ery — and  Copper,  Indiana  beat  thi  Copper 
into  SpoonSf  Bracelets^  ^c,  Chagouemig — dis- 
tressed  state  qflndims  there,  Indians  supplied'^ 
go  to  the  chase, 

UNDER  the  French  government  rS  Canada, 
the  ftir.titide  was  subject  to  a  variety  ol  regulations, 
established  and  enforced  by  the  rt)yal  authority  ; 
and,  in  1765,  the  period  at  which  I  began  to  prose- 


:tr 


:'  r  i  I, 


iM>  'i 


# 


199 


TRAVELS  AND 


*E4-ft 


cute  it.  anew,  some  remains  of  the  ancient  system 
were  still  preservedt  No  person  could  go  into  the 
countries  lying  north- Westward  of  Detroit,  unless 
furnished  with  a  license  ;  and  the  exclusive  trade 
of  particular  districts  was  capable  of  being  enjoyed^ 
ih  virtue  of  grants  from  military  commanders. 


\"^i 


.*  m 


..'•I 


Urn  \\ 

i\  ^    ' 


i'",P#'-.'l'i->  .1*' 


The  exclusive  trade  of  Lake  Superior  was  given 
to  myself,  by  the  commandant  of  Fort  Michili^ 
mackinac ;  and  to  prosecute  it,  I  purchased  goods, 
which  I  found  at  this  post,  at  twelve  months'  credit. 
My  stock  was  the  freight  of  four  canoes,  and  I 
took  it  at  the  price  of  ten  thousand  pounds  weight 
of  good  aikl  merchantable  beaver.  It  is  in  beaver 
that  accounts  are  kept  at  Michilimackinac  ;  but  in 
defect  of  this  article,  other  furs  and  skins  are  ac- 
cepted  in  payments,  being  first  reduced  unto  their 
value  in  beaver*  Beaver  was  at  this  time  at  the 
price  of  two  shillings  and  sixpence  per  pound, 
Michilimackinac-currency ;  otter  skins,  at  six 
shillings  each;  marten,  at  one  shilling  and  sixpence, 
and  others  in  proportion. 

To  carry  the  goods  to  my  wintering-ground  in 
Lake  Superior^  I  engaged  twelve  men,  at  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  livres,  ^,  the  same  currency,  each  ; 
that  is,  a  hundred  pounds  weight  of  beaver.  For 
provisions,  I  purchased  fifty  bushels  of  maize,  at 
ten  pounds  of  beaver  per  bushel.  At  this  place, 
specie  was  so  wholly  out  of  the  question,  that  ir 


■9> 


w^y 


4Pve;ntur^8, 


W 


going  t^  ^  c^tine,  yoij  took  whh  yq^  %  li¥urt)eii^ 
3kilV  $P  pay  yqur  reckoning.* 

■■  -I 

On  the  Uthof  July,  1765,  I  embarked  for  the  1| 
Sault  de  Sainte-Marie,  where,  on  iny  arrival,  f 
took  into  partiiership  M*  Cadott?,  vh^m  I  havf^ 
already  had  frequent  occasion  to  pa^e ; ,  and  on  thfi 
26th  I  proceeded  for  my  wintering-grouodji  wl4pjl, 
was  to  be  fixed  at  Chagouemig. 

The  next  morning,  I  crossed  the  Strait  of  Sainte> 
Marie,  or  of  Lake  Superior,  to  a  point,  whijchthe 
Chipeways  call  the  Grave  of  the  ^roqi^oi^.  Tf^ 
this  name  there  belongs  a  tradition,  that  the  Iro- 
quois, whoj  at  a  certain  time,  mad/e  war  upon  the 
Chipe^ways,  with  tb^  design  of  dispossessing  then^ 
of  their  country,  encamp.ed,  one  night,  ^  thoi|sand 
strong,  upon  this  point;  where,  thinl^g  themselves^ 
siBcure  from  their  numbers,  they  indulged  in  le^t^ 
log  on  the  bodies  of  their  pHboners.  The  sight» 
however,  of  the  sufferings  and  humiUation  of  their 
kindred  and  friends,  so  wrought  upon  the  Chipe- 
ways*  wHq  bf^held  ^hem  froin  the  opposite  ^hore,  that 
with  the  largest  number  of  warriors  they  could  col- 
let* kl^t  which  amounted  only  to  three  hundred,^ 
they  crossed  th^  channel,  ai|d  at  break  of  day  felt 
upoa lH«  IroqUQIs,  nQW  sleeping  after  their  e3^^8se% 


"I  Si^eP^i.  Chapter  5. 


25 


t 


194 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


Mia  put  one  WA  all  to  death.  Of  their  own  party, 
they  lost  but  a  single  man ;  and  he  died  of  a  wound 
which  he  received  from  an  old  woman,  who  stabbed 
i  him  with  an  awl.  She  was  at  work,  making  shoes 
for  the  family,  when  he  broke  into  the  lodge,  near 
the  entrance  of  which  she  sat. — Some  of  the  old 
men  of  my  crew  remembered  at  this  place  to  have 
seen  bones. 


On  the  lake,  we  fell  in  with  Indians,  of  whom  I 
purchased  provisions.  One  party  agreed  to  accom- 
pany me,  tp  hunt  for  nle,  on  condition  of  being 
supplied  with  necessaries  on  credit.^ 


■■',  t   '  ; 


On  the  19th  of  August,  we  reached  the  mouth 
of  the  river  Ontonagan,  one  of  the  largest  on  the 
south  side  of  the  lake.  At  the  mouth,  was  an  In- 
dian village ;  alid  at  three  leagues  above,  a  fall, 
at  the  foot  of  which  sturgeon  were  at  this  season  so 
abundant,  that  a  month's  subsistence  for  a  regi- 
ment could  have  been  taken  in  a  few  hours. 


But,  I  found  this  river  chiefly  remarkable  for  the 
abundance  of  virgin  copper,  which  is  on  itsbanksand 
in  its  neighbourhood,  and  of  which  the  reputation 
h  at  present  more  geikrally  spread,  than  it  was  at 
thfe  time  of  this  my  first  visit.  The  attempts,  which 
were  shortly  after  made,  to  work  the  mines  of  Lake 
Superior  to  advantage,  will  very  soon  claim  a  place, 
among  the  facts  which  I  am  to  describe. 


1765.]* 


ADVENTURES. 


195 


The  copper  presented  itself  to  the  eye,  in  masses 
of  various  weight.  The  Indians  showed  me  one 
ci  twenty  pounds.  They  were  used  to  manufac«» 
ture  this  metal  into  spoons  and  bracelets  for  them- 
selves. In  the  perfect  state  in  which  they  found  it,  it 
required  nothing  but  to  be  beat  into  shape.  The  Pi* 
w4rtic»  or  Iron-river,  enters  the  lake  to  the  westward 
of  the  Qntonagan;  and  here,  as  is  pretended,  silver 
was:  found,  while  the  country  was  in  the  possession 
of  the  French.  ^ 

• 

Beyond  this  river,  I  met  more  Indians,  whom  I 
furnished  with  merchandise  on  credit.  The  prices 
were  for  a  stroud  blanket,  ten  beaver-skins ;  for  a 
white  blanket,  eight;  a  pound  of  powder,  two  ;  a 
pound  of  shot,  or  of  ball,  one  ;  a  gim,  twenty  ;  an 
axe,  of  one  pound  weight,  two  ;  a  knife,  one. — 
Beaver,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  worth,  at 
Michilimackinac,  two  shillings*  and  sixpence  a 
pound,  in  the  currency  of  that  place ;  that  is,  six 
livres,  or  a  dollar. 

On  my  arrival  at  Chagouemig,  I  found  fifty 
lodges  of  Indians  there.  These  people  were  i^iril^ 
naked,  their  trade  having  been  interrupted,  firgit  b^ 
the  English  invasion  of  Canada,  and  next  by  I^on-?' 
tiac'swar^ 

Adding  the  Indians  of  Chagouemig  to  those 
wluch  I  had  brought  with  me,  I  had  now  a  hundred 


\ 


iii 
'1 


^1  H 


ff> 


tm 


tftAV£L^  ifti. 


tiTW. 


r^tn 


fiimilies^  to  all  of  whom  I  wan  i«quii«d  Vb  advance 
goods  oii  credit.  At  a  couticil^  ti-hlch  I  was  inf  b. 
ted  to  attend^  the  men  declared,  that  tmliesa  their 
demands  were  complied  with,  their  wives  and  ol^ 
dren  would  perish ;  for  thdt  thfere  were  iieithef  ahli- 
iilumtion  nor  clothing  \th  among  them.  UAdlHr 
Ih^se  circumstances,  I  saw  my  self  obliged  to  4i«. 
tribute  goods,  to  the  amount  of  three  ^otiskliA 
beaver-skins.  This  done,  the  Ihdicms  went  on 
•  their  hunt,  at  the  distance  of  a  hundred  le%udft 
A  clerk,  acting  as  my  agent,  accompanied  them  to 
Fond  du  Lac,  taking  wiUi  him  two  k)Qded  canoes. 
Meanwhile,  at  the  expense  of  six  days^laibottr,  I 
was  provided  with  a  veky  ooliifbrtable  h<rtise»  fen: 
my  winter's  residence. 


\ 


*  [ITM. 


ladlrahce 
Wflft  tsiil- 
iDefift  their 

Xatitf  fttti- 
.    UAdar 

;d  them  to 
ed  canbes. 
/labour,  I 


I'lS  i    4 


,^: 


CHAPTER  II. 

CkA^iau^fhig,  Hunt,  Feast  of  Sacrifice  ts  the 
Great  Spirit-^^motwes — and  mode.  Ludicrous 
intidenti  Comment  of  the  Indians,  Chipewatf 
Campaign  against  the  JSIadowesSies,  Scalping 
the  killed  in  battle  esteemed  honourMe  to  thd 
Nation  tb  whom  they  belong.  Author  learvtt 
Vhagouemig^-^further  explores  th^BanHofthe 

.Ofitohagan, 

> 

CH AOQUEMIG^  or  Chagouemigon^  might 
at  this  period  be  regarded  as  the  metropolis  of  th^ 
Chipeways,  of  whom  the  tri|e  name  is  0'ehibbuoi/i 
The  chiefs  informed  me,  that  they  had  frequentlji^ 
attacked  the  Nadowessies,  (by  |he  French  callea 
Sioux  or  JVadouessioux,)  with  whom  they  are 
always  at  war,  with  fifteen  hundred  itien,  including 
in  this  number  the  fighting-men  from  Fond  du 
Lac,  or  the  head  of  Lake  Superior.  The  oiuse  of 
the  perpetual  war,  carried  on  between  these  two 
nations,  is  this,  that  both  claim,  as  their  exclusive 
hunting-ground,  the  tract  of  country  which  lies 


t  ■''"Ji 


I   j\ 


m 


M 


198 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


between  them,  and  uniformly  attack  each  other 
when  they  meet  upon  it. 


m'  I 


UT 


y 


The  Chipeways  of  Chagouemig  are  a  hand- 
some well-made  people  ;  and  much  more  cleanly, 
as  well  as  much  more  regular  in  the  government  of 
their  families,  than  the  Chipeways  of  Lake  Huron. 
The  women  have  ag^eable  features,  and  take  great 
pains  in  dressing  their  hair,  which  consists  in 
neatly  dividing  it  on  the  forehead  and  top  of  the 
head,  and  in  plaiting  and  turning  it  up  behind. 
The  men  paint  as  well  their  whole  body  as  their 
hoc ;  sometimes  with  charcoal,  and  sometimes 
with  white  ochre ;  ~and  appear  to  study  how  to 
make  themselves  as  unlike  as  possible  to  any  thing 
human.  The-  clothing,  in  which  I .  found  thei^ 
both  men  and  women,  was  chiefly  of  dressed 
deer-skin,  European  manufactures  having  been 
for  sonie  time  out  of  their  reach.  In  this  respect, 
itivas  not  long,  after  my  goods  were  dispersed 
ong  them,  before  they  were  scarcely  to  be 
own,  for  the  same  people.  The  women  height- 
ened the  colour  of  their  cheeks,  and  realty  anima- 
ted their  beauty,  by  a  liberal  use  of  vermilion. 


;♦ 


t  My  house  being  completed,  my  winter's  food 
was  the  next  object ;  and  for  this  purpose,  with  the 
assistance  of  my  men,  I  soon  took  two  thousand 
trout  and  white-fish,  the  former  frequently  weigh- 


[A.  D. 
ach  other 


•e  a  hand- 
TC  cleanly, 
^eminent  ot 
ake  Huron, 
i  take  great 
consists  in 
1  top  of  the 

up  behind, 
^y  as  their 
[  sometimes 
udy  how  to 
to  anything 
^ound  theiji^ 
■  of   dressed 
iving  been 

this  respect, 
:re  dispersed 
•cely  to  be 
lomen  height- 

realjy  anima- 

irmilion. 

winter's  food 
3se,  with  the 
[two  thousand 
luently  weigh- 


irss.] 


ADVENTURES. 


199 


ing  fifty  pounds  each,  and  the  latter  commonly 
from  four  to  six.  We  preserved  them  by  sus- 
pending them  by  the  tail  in  the  open  air.  These, 
without  bread  or  salt,  were  our  food  through  all  the 
winter;  the  men  being  free  to  consume  what  quan- 
tity they  pleased,  and  boiling  or  roasting  them 
whenever  they  thought  proper.  After  leaving 
Michilimackinac,  I  saw  no  bread  ;  and  I  found  less 
difficulty,  in  reconciling  myself  to  the  privation, 
than  I  could  have  anticipated. 

On  the  15th  of  December,  the  Bay  of  Chagoue- 
mig  was  frozen  entirely  over.  After  this,  I  resumed 
my  former  amusement  of  spearing  trout,  and 
sometimes  caught  a  hundred  of  these  fish  in  a 
day,  each  weighing,  on  an  average,  twenty  pounds. 

My  house,  which  stood  in  the  bay,  was.  sheltered 
by  an  island  of  fifteen  miles  in  length,  and  between 
which  and  the  main  the  channel  is  four  miles 
broad.  On  the  island,  there  was  formerly  a  French 
trading-post,  much  frequented ;  and  in  its  neigh- 
bourhood a  l^ge  Indian  village.  To  th^  south- 
east is  a  lake,  called  Lake  des  Outaouais,  from  the 
Otawas,  its  former  possessors  ;  but  it  is  now  the 
property  of  the  Chipeways. 

From  the  first  hunting-party  which  brought  me 
furs,  I  experienced  some  disorderly  behaviour;  but 


M» 


TRAVELS  AN© 


[A.B. 


» 


I 


II 


ill  ^1^-  ^iS'^ 


happily  witlioiit  serious  issue.  Having  crowded 
Into  my  house,  and  demanded  rum,  which  I  refur 
sed  them,  they  talked  of  indulging  themselves 
in  a  general  pillage,  and  I  found  myself  aban- 
doned by  all  my  men.  Fortunately,  I  was  able  to 
arm  myself;  and  on  my  threatening  to  shoot  the 
first  who  should  lay  his  hands  on  any  thing,  the 
tumult  began  to  subside,  and  was  presendy  after  at 
^n  end.  When  over,  my  men  appeared  to  be  truly 
ashamed  of  their  cowardice,  and  made  promises 
never  to  behave  in  a  similar  manner  again. 

Admonished  of  my  danger,  I  now  resolved  on 
burying  the  liquor  which  I  had ;  and  the  Indians, 
once  persuaded  that  I  had  none  to  give  them,  went 
and  came  very  peaceably,  paying  their  debts  and 
purchasing  goods.  In  the  month  of  March,  the 
manufacture  of  ms^le-sugar  engaged  as  usual  their 
attention. 

Wlule  the  snow  still  lay  on  the  ground,  I  propo- 
sed to  the  Indians  to  join  me  in  a  hunting  excursion, 
and  they  readily  agreed.  Shortly  after  we  went 
out,  my  companions  discovered  dents  or  hollows 
ki  the  snow,  which  they  affirmed  to  be  the  footsteps 
of  a  bear,  made  in  the  beginning  of  the  winter, 
afler  the  first  snow. — As  for  me,  I  should  have 
passed  over  the  same  grpund  without  acquiring  any 
such  inforraatioA ;  and  probably  without  remarlung 


^  crowded 
ch  I  refur 
hemaelves 
self  abun- 
as  able  to 
[>  shoot  the 
thing,  the 
^tly  after  at 
to  be  truly 
e  proimses 

am. 

I 

resolved  on 
the  In^Uans, 
;  them,  went 
fir  debts  and 
March,  the 
as  usual  their 


rnd,  I  pFopo- 
ig  excursion, 
ter  we  went 
or  hollows 
the  footsteps 
the  winter, 
should  have 
acquiring  any 
kut  remarUng 


1761.] 


ADVENTURES. 


S0& 


Uie  very  fiiint  traces  which  they  wfpt  atde  to 
distinguish,  and  ceruunly  without  deducing  so 
many  particular  facts :  but,  what  can  be  more 
credible,  than  that  long  habits  of  close  observation 
in  the  forest,  should  give  the  Indian  hunter  some 
advantages,  in  the  exercke  of  his  daily  callmg? 
The  Indians  were  not  deceived  ;  for,  on  following 
the  traces  which  they  had  found,  they  were  led  to  a 
tree,  at  the  root  of  which  was  a  bear. 

As  I  had  proposed  this  hunt,  I  was,  by  the  In^ 
dian  custom,  the  master  and  the  proprietor  of  all 
tlie  game ;  but,  the  head  of  the  family  which  com- 
posed  my  party  begged  to  have  the  bear,  alleging, 
that  he  piuch  desired  to  make  a  feast  to  the  Kichi 
Manito,  or  Great  Spirit,  who  had  preserved  him« 
self  and  his  family  through  the  winter,  and  brought 
them  in  safety  to  the  lake.  On  his  receiving  my 
consent,  the  women  went  to  the  spot  where  we  had 
killed  the  bear^  and  where  the  carcass  had  been  left 
in  safety,  buried  deep  in  the  snow.  Tliey  brought 
the  booty  back  with  them,  and  kettles  being  hung 
bver  the  fires,  the  whole  bear  was  dressed  for  the 
feast. 

* 

About  an  hour  after  dark,  accompanied  by  four 
of  my  men,  I  repaired  to  the  place  of  sacrifice,  ac- 
cording to  invitation.  The  nqmber  of  the  Indians 
exactly  equalled  ours,  there  being  two  men  and 
thiee  women  j  so  that  togethar  we  were  ten  per- 

26 


208 


TRAVELS  ANO 


[A.B. 


'  j  > 


E*  ' 


i  ■  '* 


'l:i ' ' 


MmW'  i 

mlWwm 


p. 

pi* 


sons,  upon  whom  it  was  incumbent  to  eat  up  the 
whole  bear.  I  was  obliged  to  receive  into  my  own 
plate,  or  dish,  a  portion  of  not  less  than  ten  pounds 
weight,  and  each  of  my  men  were  supplied  with 
twice  this  quantity.  As  to  the  Indians,  one  of 
them  had  to  his  share  the  head,  the  breast,  the 
heart,  with  its  surrounding  fat,  and  all  the  four  feet; 
and  the  whole  of  this  he  swallowed  in  two  hours. 
He,  as  well  as  the  rest,  had  finished  before  I  had 
got  through  half  my  toil;  and  my  men  were 
equally  behind-hand.  In  this  situation,  one  of  them 
resorted  to  an  experiment  which  had  a  ludicrous 
issue,  and  which,  at  the  same  time,  served  to  dis- 
cover a  fresh  feature  in  the  superstitions  of  the  In- 
dians. Haying,  first  observed  to  us,  that  a  part  of 
the  cheer  would  be  very  acceptable  to  him  the  next 
day,  when  his  appetite  should  be  returned,  he 
withdrew  a  part  of  the  contents  of  his  dish,  and 
made  it  fast  to  the  ^rdle  which  he  wore  under  his 
shirt.  "While  he  disposed  in  this  maihner  of  his  su- 
perabundance, I,  who  found  myself  unable  to  per- 
form my  part,  requested  the  Indians  to  assist  me ; 
and  this  they  cheerfully  did,  eating  what  I  had  found 
too  much,  with  as  much  apparent  ease  as  if  their 
stomachs  had  beenpreviously  empty.  The  feast 
being  brought  to  an  end,  and  the  prayer  and  thanks- 
^ving  pronounced,  those  near  the  door  depart- 
ed ;  but,  when  the  poor  fellow  who  had  concealed 
his  meat,  and  who  had  to  pass  from  the  further  end 
of  the  lodge,  rose  up  to  go,  two  dogs,  guided  by 


irea.] 


ADVENTURES. 


203 


Hnt  scent,  laid  hold  of  the  treasure,  and  tore  it  to 
the  ground.  The  Indians  were  greatly  astonished ; 
but,  presently  observed,  that  the  Great  Spirit  had 
led  the  dogs  by  inspiration  to  the  act,  in  order  to 
frustrate  the  profane  attempt  to  steal  away  this  por- 
tion of  the  offering.  As  matters  stood,  the  course 
they  took  was  to  put  the  meat  into  the  fire,  and 
there  consume  it. 

bn  the  20th  of  April,  the  ice  broke  up,  and  se^ 
veral  canoes  arrived,  filled  with  women  and  chiU 
dren,  who  reported  that  the  men  of  their  band 
were  all  gone  out  to  war,  against  the  Nadowessies. 
On  the  15th  of  May,  a  part  of  the  warriors,  with 
fiome  others,  arrived,  in  fifty  canoes,  almost  every 
one  of  which  had  a  cargo  of  furs.  The  warriors 
gave  me  some  account  of  their  campaign ;  stating, 
that  they  had  set  out  in  search  of  the  enemy,  four 
hundred  strong ;  sand  that  on  the  fourth  day  from 
dieir  leaving  their  village,  they  had  met  the  enemy» 
and  been  engaged  in  batde.  The  battle,  as  they 
related,  raged  the  greater  part  of  tbe  day  ;  and  in 
the  evening,  the  Nadowessies,  to  the  number  of  six 
hundred,  fell  back,  across  a  river  which  lay  behind 
them,  encamping  in  this  position  for  the  night. 
The  Chipeways  had  thirty-five  killed ;  and  they 
\took  advanU^  of  the  sus|)ensiOn  of  the  fray,  to 
prepare  the  bodies  of  their  friends,  and  then  retired 
to  a  small  distance  from  the  place,  expecting  the 
Nadowessies  to  reoross  the  stream  in  the  morning, 


t 


»,  ■ 

1    ». 


',  i)" 


tP 


lii  \ 


¥■■% 


m-^^  .V 


204 


( 


THAVELS  AMD 


[A.  H. 


and  come  aif^ain  to  blows.  In  this,  however,  they 
were<li8a^K>iiited ;  for  the  KadoM?«e8ties  contUHied 
^ir  retreat,  without  even  doing  the  honours  of 
war^o  the  skum  To  do  these  honours  is  to  scalp ; 
and  to  prepare  the  btxUes  is  to  dre^s  and  paint  thu 
remains  of  the  dead,  preparatorily  to  this  mark  of 
attention  from  the  enemy :  **  The  neglect,'*  said  the 
Chipeways,  '*  was  an  af&ont  to  ^s*— a  dkgrace  ; 
"  because  we  consider  it  an  honour,  to  have  the 
**  scalps  of  our  countrymen  exhibited  in  the  Tilla- 
**  ges  of  our  enemies,  in  testimony  of  our  vaiour.'* 

The  concourse  of  Indians,  alneady  mentioned* 
with  others  who  came  after,  aU  rich  in  furs,  ena^ 
bkd  tt^  very  speedily  to  ciosfe  my  traffic  tar  the 
^p:ii^,  disposing  of  all  the  goods,  which,  on  tekmg 
M.  Cadotte  intopartnership,  had  been  left  in  my  own 
hands.  I  found  myself  in  possession  of  a  hundred 
iofid  fifty  packs  of  beaver,  wdghing  m  hundred 
pounds  each,  besides  twenty-five  packs  of  ottor 
ind  marten  skins ;  and  widi  this  partof  die  fruits 
laf  my  adventure,  I  embarked  for  Midulimackinac, 
sufing  in  company  widi  fifty  canots  of  Indiam, 
idx>  had  still  a  himdred  packs  of  beBtyer,  which  I 
wastmdble  to  purchase.  -^ 


<Onmy  way,  levteamiped  a  second  time  atte 
vtKMithof  the  Ontonagan,  and  now  took  the  oppor- 
tunity of  going  ten  miles  up  the  river,  with  Indian 
guides*  IMobject,  li^iuch  I  went  most  expressly  to 


i^ '»'''■■' 


%/.::     •     '^'V 


continued 
Ginottrscf 
to  scalp; 
paint  thu 
>  mark  of 
>*  said  the 
disgraces 
have  the 
1  die  tUla- 
[f  vaioiir*'* 

nentioned* 

furs,  cna- 

fie  for  the 

tinmyowi 
a  hundred 
m  hundred 
(8  of  otter 
f  the  fruits 
imackinac, 
3f  indiaifi, 
er,  whidi  I 


ires] 


ADVENTURES. 


SX)S 


see,  and  to  wYiichlhad  the  satisfaction  of  being  led» 
was  a  inass  of  copper,  of  the  weight,  according  to 
my  estimate,  of  no  less  than  five  ton.  Such  was 
its  pure  and  malleable  state,  that  with  an  axe  I  was 
able  to  cut  off  a  portion,  weighing  a  hundred 
pounds.  On  viewing  the  surrounding  sur&ce,  I 
conjectured  that  the  mass,  at  some  period  or  other, 
had  rolled  from  the  side  of  a  lofty  hill,  which  rises 
athsback* 


'i,.»i 


i  ^* 


time  atdie 
the<^ior- 

rtth  IndiiD 
irestiyto 


■jt'f 


i  1' 


fft ,  iT4 


el  i  J)     ■,??     „  •>      f 


CHAPTER  III. 

Author  winters    at    the  Sault  de  Sainte-Marie* 
Scarcity  of  Frovisiom.    The  Man-eater. 

I  PASSED  the  winter  Mowmg  at  the  Saultde 
Sainte-Marie.  Fish,  at  this  place,  are  usually  so 
abundant,  in  the  autumn,  that  precautions  are  not 
taken  for  a  supply  of  provisions  for  the  winter;  but, 
this  year  the  fishery  failed,  and  the  early  setting-in 
of  the  frost  rendered  it  impracticable  to  obtain  as- 
sistance from  Michilimackinac.  To  the  increase 
of  our  difficulties,  five  men,  whom,  on  the  prospect 
of  distress,  I  had  sent  to  subsist  themselves  at  a  dis- 
tant post,  came  back,  on  the  day  before  Christmas- 
day,  driven  in  by  want. 

Under  these  circumstances,  and  h^iving  heard 
that  fish  might  be  found  in  Oak*bay,  call^  by  the 
French,  Anse  si  laPeche,  or  Fishing-cove,  which  is 
on  the  north  side  of  Lake  Superior,  at  the  distance 
of  twelve  leagues  from  the  Sault,  I  lost  no  time  in 
repairing  thither,  taking  with  me  several  men,  with 
a  pint  of  maize  only  for  each  person. 


fM 


-^^ 


1767.] 


TRAVELS,  &c. 


207 


In  Oak-bay,  we  were  generally  able  tb  obtun  a 
supply  of  food,  sometimes  doing  so  with  great  febili- 
ty,  but  at  others  going  to  bed  hungry.  After  being 
here  a  fortnight,  we  were  joined  by  a  body  of  In- 
dians, flying,  like  ourselves,  from  famine.  Two 
days  after,  there  came  a  young  Indian  out  of  the 
woods,  alone,  and  reporting  that  he  had  left  the 
family  to  which  he  belonged  behind,  in  a  starving 
ccHidition,  and^nable,  from  their  weakly  and  ex- 
hausted state,  to  pursue  their  journey  to  the  bay. 
The  appearance  of  this  youth  was  frightful ;  and 
from  his  squalid  figure  there  issued  a  stench  which 
none  of  us  could  support. 

His  arrival  struck  our  camp  with  horror  and  un- 
easiness ;  and  it  was  not  long  before  the  Indians 
came  to  me,  saying,  that  they  suspected  he  had 
been  eating  human  flesh,  and  even  that  he  had  killed 
and  devoured  the  family  which  he  pretended  to 
have  left  behind. 

These  charges,  upon  being  questioned,  he  de- 
nied ;  but,  not  without  so  much  equivocation  in  his 
answers  as  to  increase  the  presumption  agsunst 
him%  In  consequence,  the  Indians  determined  on 
travelling  a  day's  journey,  on  his  track  ;  observing, 
that  they  should  be  able  to  discover,  from  his  en- 
campments, whether  he  were  guilty  or  not.  The 
next  day,  they  returned,  bringing  with  them  a  hu- 
man hand  and  skull.    The  hand  had  been  left 

3  * 


t? 


H 


t 

Ll 


I 


Jj 


■■%., 


2oa 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  Oi 


roastirig  before  a  fire,  while  ^  intestines,  taken  out 
of  the  body  from  which  it  was  cut^hung  fresh  upon 
«  neighbouring  tree* 


The  youth,  being  informed  of  these  discoveries, 
and  further  questioned,  confessed  the  crime  of 
idiich  he  was  accused.  From  the  account  he  now 
proceeded  to  give,  it  appeared  that  the  family  had 
consisted  of  his  uncle  and  aunt,  tj^ir  four  children 
smd  himself.  One  of  the  children  was  a  boy  of 
fifteen  years  of  age.  His  uncle,  after  firing  at  se- 
veral beasts  of  the  chase,  all  of  which  he  missed, 
fell  into  despondence,  and  persuaded  himself  that 
it  was  the  will  of  the  Great  Spirit  that  he  should 
perish.  In  this  state  of  mind,  he  requested  his  wife 
to  kill  him.  The  woman  refused  to  comply ;  but 
the  two  lads,  one  of  them,  as  has  been  said,  the 
nephew,  and  the  other  the  son  of  the  unhappy  man, 
agreed  between  themselves  to  murder  him,  to  pre- 
vent, as  our  informant  wished  us  to  believe,  his 
murdering  them.  Accomplishing  their  detestable 
purpose,  they  devoured  the  body ;  and  famine 
pressing  upon  them  still  closer,  they  successively 
killed  the  three  youngel^children,  upon  whose  flesh 
diey  subsisted  for  some  time,  and  with  a  ]j)^rt  of 
wluc^  ^e  parricides  at  length  set  out  for  the  lake, 
leaving  the  woman,  who  was  too  feeble  to  travel, 
to  her  fete.  On  their  way,  their  foul  victuals 
fiuled  ;  the  youth  before  us   killed  his  compa- 


jr67.] 


ADVENTURES. 


209 


nion ;  and  it  was  a  part  of  the  remains  df  this  last 
victim  that  had  been  discovered  at  the  fire. 

The  Indians  entertain  an  opinion,  that  the  man, 
who  has  once  made  human  flesh  his  food,  will  never 
siterward  be  satisfied  with  any  other.  It  is  proba* 
ble  that  we  saw  things  in  some  measure  through 
the  .medium  of  our  prejudices ;  but,  I  confess  that 
this  distressing  object  appeared  to  verify  the  doc- 
trine. He  ate  with  rbliih  nothing  that  was  giv- 
en him;  buty  indifferent  to  the  food  prepared, 
fixed  his  eyes  continually  on  tlie  children  which 
were  in  the  Indian  lodge,  and  frequently  ex- 
claimed, "  How  fat  they  are  !"— -It  was  perhaps 
not  unnatural,  tliat  after  long  acquaintance  with 
no  human  forin  but  such  as  was  gaunt  and  pale 
from  want  of  food,  a.  man's  eyes  should  be 
almost  riveted  upon  any  thing,  where  misery 
had  not  ma^  such  inroads,  and  still  more  upon 
the  bloom  ai>di  plumpness  of  childhood ;  and  the 
exclamation  might  be  the  most  innocent,  and 
might  proceed  from  an  involuntary  and  unconquer- 
able sentiment  of  admiration. — Be  this  as  it  may, 
his  behaviour  was  considered,  and  not  less  natural- 
ly, as  marked  with  the  most  alarming  symptoms ; 
and  the  Indians,  apprehensive  that  he  would  prey 
upon  their  children,  resolved  on puttinghimtodeath. 
They  did  this  the  next  day,  with  a  single  stroke  of 
an  axe,  aimed  at  his  head  from  behind,  and  of  the 

27 


■  'lU 


iiJ 


\i? 


91^ 

B 

31Q  TRAVELS,  kcIA  [iWf. 

q)proaOh  t»f  which  he  had  notihe  imiillettintimsi- 
tion. 

Som  after  this  affair,  our  supply  of  foh,  pyen 
here,  began  to  f^ ;  and  we  resolved,  in  conse^ 
quence,  to  return  to  the  Sault,  in  the  hope  that 
some  supply  might  have  arrived  there.  Want, 
however,  still  prevailed  at  that  place,  and  no  stran. 
ger  had  vi^ted  it :  we  set  off,  therefore,  to  Michili. 
mackinac,  taking  with  us  ^y  one  meal's  provi« 
sion,  for  each  person.  Happily,  at  our  first  en* 
campment,  an  hour's  fishing  procured  us  seven 
trout,  each  of  from  ten  pounds  weight  to  twenty. 
At  the  river  Miscoutinsaki,  we  found  two  lodges 
of  Indians,  who  had  fish,  and  who  generously  gave 
us  part  The  next  day,  we  condnued  our  journey, 
tilli,  meeting  with  a  car^ouy  I  was  so  fortunate  as  to 
kill  it.  We  encamped  close  to  the  carcass,  which 
wf^ghed  about  four  himdred  pounds,  and  subsisted 
ourselves  upon  it  for  two  days.  On  the  seventh 
day  of  our  march^  we  reached  Fort  Michiliinacki- 
nac,  where  our  difficulties  ended* 

Onthelstof  July,  there  arrived  a  hundred  ca« 
noes  fix>m  the  norths  west,  laden  with  beaver. 


At  Point  Mamance,   tHe    beach  appeared  to 
«ibouiul  in  mineral  substances ;  and  I  met  with  a 


■'  i, 


CHAPTER  IV. 


!'.J 


Voyage  fiopt  the  Sault  de  Sainte-Matie  to  MichU 
picoten.  Face  of  the  Country .  Ores  of  Copper 
nnd  Lead*  Indian  Traditions — JVttnibojou — 
his  Burial-place^^Original  Country-^thluge"^ 
Creation  ofMan^-^nimals  conspire  against  Man^ 
kind — deprived  of  the  use  of  Speech*  Sacrifices^ 
ittthe  Grave  of  Nanibojou-^his  present  offices. 
Mioer  of  MicHpicottht,  Opimitfish  Ininiwac-^ 
emntry-^languagie'^resS'^wretchediiess^nceS'- 
tuous  customs-'^trict  honesty-'-^utnbers*  Face 
ifthit  Country, 

THE  same  year,  1  chose  thy  wint^ring-grotind 
s(t  Michipicoten,  on  the  north  side  of  Lake  Supe- 
rior, distant  fifty  leagues  from  the  Sault  de  Sainte- 
Marie.  On  my  voyagC)  after  passing  the  great 
capes  which  are  at  the  mouth  of  the  lake,  I  ob- 
served the  banks  to  be, low  and  stony,  and  in  some 
places  running  a  league  back^  to  the  feet  of  a  ri^ppe 
of  mountains. 


'■  f  s 


m-     *      1 

k 


If 


t « 


iK 


T. 


^^ 


21i 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


V  il:^ 


vein  of  lead-ore,  where  the  metal  abounded  in  the 
form  of  cubical  crystals.  Still  coasting  along  the 
lake,  I  found  several  veins  of  copper-ore,  of  that 
kind  which  the  miners  call  gray  ore. 


m 


'/■ii 


From  Mamance  to  Nanibojou  is  fifteen  leagues. 
Nanibojou  is  on  the^eastem  side  of  the  Bay  of 
Michipicoten.     At  the  opposite  point,  or  cape,  are 
several  small  islands,  under  one  of  which,  accord- 
'  ing  to  Indian  tradition,  is  buried    Nanibojou,  a 
person  of  tlie  most  sacred  memory..    Nanibojou, 
ris  otherwise  called  by  the  names  of  Minabojou, 
•Michabou,    Messou,    Shactac,  and  a  variety  of 
others,  but  of  all  of  which  the  interpretation  ap- 
pears to  be,   The  Great  Hare,    The  traditions, 
related  of  the  Great  •Hare,  areas  varied  as  his 
name. '  He  was  represented  to  me  as  the  founder, 
and  indeed  creator,  of  the  Indian  nations  of  North- 
America.     He  lived  originally  toward  the  going 
down  of  the  sun,  where  being  warned,  in  a  dream, 
that  the  inhabitants  would  be  drowned  by  a  gene- 
ral flood,  produced  by  heavy  rains,  he  built  a  raft, 
<m  which  he  afterward  preserved  his  own  family, 
and  all  the  animal  world  i/idthout  exception.    Ac- 
jcdrding  to  his  dream,  the  rains  fell,  and  a  flood 
ensued.     His  raft  drifted  for  many  moons,  during 
which  no  land  was  discovered.     His  family  began 
to  despair  of  a  termlAation  to  the  calamity ;  and 
the  animals^  who  had  then  the  use  of  speech^  mur- 


* 


1767.] 


ADVENTURES. 


S|id 


mured  loudly  against  him.  In  thc^  end,  he  pro- 
duced a  new  earth,  pladed  the  animab  upon  it,  &nd 
created  man. 


At  a  subsequent  period,  he  took  from  the  ani- 
mals the  use  of  speech.  This  act  of  severity  was 
performed  in  consequence  of  a  conspiracy,  into 
which  they  had  entered  against  the  hiim^  race.  At 
the  head  of  the  conspiracy  was  the  bear ;  and  the 
great  increase,  which  had  taken  place  among  the 
animals,  rendered  their  numbers  formidable. — I 
have  heard  many  other  stories  concerning  Nani- 
bojou,  and  many  have  been  already  given  to  the 
public ;  and  this  at  least  is  certain,  that  sacrifices 
are  offered,  on  the  island  which  is  called  his  grave 
or  tumulus,  by  all  who  pass  it.  I  landed  there,  and 
found  on  the  projecting  rocks  a  quantity  of  tobacco, 
rotting  in  the  rain ;  together  with  kettles,  broken 
guns  and  a  variety  of  other  articles.  His  spirit  is 
supposed  to  make  this  its  constant  residence  ;  and 
here  to  preside  over  the  lake,  smd  over  the  Indians, 
in  their  navigation  and  fishing.       , 


'ti 


This  island  lies  no  further  from  the  main,  tiiaii 
the  distance  of  five  hundred  yards.  On  the  oppo*- 
site  beach)  I  found  several  pieces  of  virgi^  cojpper, 
of  which  many  were  remarkable  for  their  form  ; 
some  resembling  leavesi  of  vegetables,  and  others 


214 


TRAVELS  ANb 


[A.D. 


i:^' 


Wl  i'  V  *  ; 
f  •? }  .J  '< 


!J^ 

fpflji 

111 

1^" ^1' 

ti^ 

I't''^  '-jj. 

n 

f^l^Hi 

animab.      Their  weighl  was  from  an  olitice  to 
three  pounds. 

From  the  island  to  my  proposed  wintering- 
ground,  the  voyage  was  about  ten  leagues.  The 
lake  is  here  bordered  by  a  rugged  and  deva- 
ted  country,  con«sting  in  mountains,  of  which,  for 
the  most  part,  the  feet  are  in  the  water,  and  the 
heads  in  the.  clouds.  The  river  which  &lls  into 
the  bay  is  a  large  one,  but  has  a  bar  at  its  en- 
trance, over  fdiich  there  is  no  more  than  four  feet 
Water. 

On  reaching  the  trading-post,  which  was  an  old 
€me  of  French  establishment,  I  found  ten  lodges 
of  Indians.  These  were  Gens  de  Terrts^  or  0*pi' 
mittish  InunwaCf  of  which  nation  I  have  already 
had  occasion  to  speak.^  It  is  scattered  over  all  the 
country  between  the  Gulf  of  Saint- Lawrence  and 
Lake  Arabuthcow,  and  betwetti Lake  Superior  and 
Hudson's  Bay.  Its  *  language  is  a  mixture  of 
those  of  its  ne^hbours,  the  Chipeways  and 
Cristinaux.f  The  men  and  women  wear  their 
hair  in  the  same  £ishion  ;  and  are  otherwise  so 
much  dressed  alike,  that  it  is  often  difficult  to  dis- 


:^ 


*  See  FtiHl.  Chapter  6.  ThejNire  also  called  Teiet  de  Bouk. 

t  The  same  with  Kudstiiiauxt  KilUstinoes,  Criq^  Cris, 
Creef»  See.  8tc.  kc. 


■■v*:'. 


[A.D. 
iitice  to 


ntering- 
,.  The 
d  dcva- 
tttch,  for 
and  the 
alls  into 
t  its  en- 
four  feet 


ras  an  old 
n  lodges 
,  or  O'pi- 
e  already 
er  all  the 
ince  and 
ior  and 
ixtureof 
LTs    and 
rear  their 
[erwise  so 
lit  to  dis- 

\%  de  Boule. 
Iriq?,   Cris, 


IW.] 


AOVENTUMS. 


21& 


tinguiah  the  sexes.  Theii*  lodges^  on  the  insuffi- 
ciency of  which  I  have  before  remarked^  have  no 
covering,  except  the  brai^ches  of  the  spruce-fir ; 
and  these  habitations,  as  well  as  the  clothes  and  per- 
sons of  the  inhabitants,  are  full  of  dirt  and  vermin^ 
Such  is  the  inhospitality  of  the  country  over  which 
they  wander,,  that  only  a  single  family  c^n  live 
together  in  the  winter  season ;  and  this  sometimes 
seeks  subsistenoe  in  vain«  on  an  area  of  five  hun- 
dred square  miles.  Thpy  can  stay  in  one  place 
only  till  they  have  destroyed  all  its  hares ;  and 
when  these  fail,  they  have  no  resource  but  in  the 
leaves  and  shoots  of  trees,  or  in  defect  of  these,  in 
cannibalism.  Most  of  these  partipuhgrs,  however, 
are  to  be  regarded  as  strc^  tndts,  by  which  the 
sorrows  and  calamities  of  the  country  admit  of  be- 
ing characterized,  rather  than  as  parts  of  an  accurate 
delineation  of  Its  mone  ordinary  state. 

Among  such  of  these  Indians  as  I  knew,  one  of 
them  was  married  to  his  own  Slaughter,  who  had 
brought  him  several  children ;  and  I  was  told  ^ 
his  companions,  that  it  was  common  among  them 
for  a  man  to  have  at  the  same  time,  both  a  mother 
and  her  daughter  for  virives. 

To  the  ten  lodges,  I  advanced  goods  to  a  large 
amount^  allowing  every  man  credit  for  a  hun- 
dred beaver-skins,  and  every  woman  for  thirty.  In 
this,  I  went  beyond  what  I  had  done  for  the  Qiipe- 


«^^ 


k 
III 


m 

hi 


216 


TRAVELS,  kc. 


[irer; 


ways,  a  proceeding  to  which  I  was  emboldened  by 
the  high  character,  for  honesty,  which  is  supported 
by  this  otl>erwise  abject  people.  Withina  few  dayv 
after  their  departure,  others  arrived ;  and  by  the 
fifteenth  of  October,  I  had  seen,  or  so  I  was  in- 
formed, all  the  Indians  of  this  quarter,  and  which 
belong  to  a  thousand  square  miles.  They  were 
comprised  in  no  more  than  ei^teen  families ;  afid 
even  these,  in  summer,  could  not  find  food  in 
the  country,  were  it  not  for  the  fish  in  the  streams 
and  lakes,  1     < 


*'■•  The  country,  immediately  contiguoustb  my  win- 
tering.ground,  was  mountainous  in  every  direc- 
tion ;  and  the  mountains  were  6eparated  from  each 
other  rather  by  lakes  than  valleys,  the  quantity  of 
wiater  every  where  exceeding  that  of  the  land.  On 
the  summits  of  some  of  the  mountains  there  were 
sugar-maple  trees  ;  but,  with  these  exceptions,  the 
uplands  had  no  other  growth  than  spruce-firs  and 
pines,  nor  the  lowfands  than  birch  and  poj^lar. 
Occasionally  i  I  saw  a  few  cariboux  ;  and  hares  and 
partridges  supplied  my  Sundays'  dinners. — By 
Christmas-day,  the  lake  was  covered  with  ice. 


v.^ 


'.^pi-  Sii'*?«fc;. 


/«  fi.lt 


'■^;4'J 


CHAPTER  V. 

Maple-sugar  making.  Depth  qf  Snow,  fTild- 
Jhwl^Mhort'lived  abundance.  Indians  bring  in 
their  Skins,  Author  passes  a  second  Winter  at 
Michipicoten-'^^ails  Jor  the  Sault  de  Sainte-Ma^ 
rie.  Storm  at  the  Island  ofNanibojou*  Famine, 
Canadians  propose  to  kill  and  eat  a  Young  JVo<^ 
man.  Tripe  de  Roche^-nutritive  quality  of  t/utt 
vegetable.  Arrival  at  the  Sault  and  return  to 
Michipicoten, 

IN  the  beginning  of  April,  I  prepared  to  make 
m^le-sugar,  building  for  this  purpose  a  house,  in 
a  hollow  dug  out  of  the  snow,  The  house  was 
seven  feet  high,  but  yet  was  lower  than  the  snow. 

On  the  twenty-fourth,  I  began  m}  manufacture. 
On  the  twenty-eighth,  the  lands  below  were  covered 
with  a  thick  fog.  All  was  calm,  and  from  the  top 
9f  the  mountain  not  a  cloud  was  to  be  discovered  in 
the  horizon  Descending  the  next  day,  I  found 
half  a  foot  of  new-fallen  snow,  and  learned  that  it 
had  blown  hard  in  th«  valleys  the  day  before ;  so 

28 


\ 


Mil' 


#■ 


218 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


i^ 


H 


<•      i 


that  I  perceived  I  had  been  making  sugar  in  a  rc» 
gion  above  the  clouds. 

Sugar-making  continued  till  the  twelfth  of  May. 
On  the  mountain,  we  eat  nothing  but  our  sugar, 
during  the  whole  period.  Each  man  consumed  a 
pound  a  day,  desired  no  other  food,  and  was  visibly 
nourished  by  it. 

After  rctunung  to  the  banksof  the  river,  wild« 
fowl  appeared  in  such  abundance  that  a  day's  sub- 
sistence, for  fifty  men,  could  without  difficulty  be 
shot  daily  by  one  ;  but,  all  this  was  the  affair  of  less 
than  a  week,  before  the  end  of  which  the  water, 
which  had  been  covered,  was  left  naked  ;  and  tlie 
birds  had  fled  away  to  the  northward. 

On  tlic  t\ientieth  day  of  the  month,  tlie  first 
party  of  Indians  came  in  from  their  winter's  hunt. 
During  the  season,  some  of  them  had  visited  one 
of  the  factories  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Compan}\ 
Within  a  few  days  following,  I  had  the  satisfac- 
tion of  seeing  all  those  to  whom  I  had  advanced 
goods  return.  Out  of  two  thousand  skins,  which 
was  the  amount  of  my  outstanding  debts,  not 
thirty  remained  unpaid  ;  and  even  the  trivial 
loss,  which  I  did  sufler,  was  occasioned  by  tlie 
death  of  one  of  the  Indians,  for  whom  his  fa- 
mily bi-ought,  as  they  said,  all  the  skins  of  which 
he  died  possessed,  and  offered  to  pay  the  rest  (rom 


ir«8.] 


ADVENTURES. 


219 


among  themselves: — hh  manes,   they  observed, 
woukl  not  be  able  to  enjoy  peace,  while  his  namQ 
remained  in  my  books,  and  his  debts  were  \c(i  yn*. 
satisfied.  > 

In  the  spring,  at  Michilimackinac,  I  met  with  a 
Mr.  Alexander  Baxter,  recently  arrived  ftx)m  En- 
gland,  on  report  of  the  ores  existing  in  this  coun- 
try.  To  this  gentleman,  I  communicated  my  mi- 
nenUogical  observations  and  specimens,  collected 
both  on  my  voyages  and  at  my  wintering. ground  ; 
and  I  was  thus  introduced  into  a  partnershi}),  which 
was  soon  afterward  formed,  for  working  tlie  mines 
of  Lake  Superior. 

Meanwhile,  I  prepared  to  pass  a  second  winter 
at  Michipicoten,  which  I  reached  at  the  usual  sea- 
son.  In  the  month  of  October,  all  tlic  Indians  Ix;. 
ing  supplied,  and  at  the  chase,  I  resolved  on  indid* 
ging  myself  in  a  voyage  to  the  Sault  de  Sainte- 
Marie,  and  took  with  me  three  Canadians,  and  a 
yoimg  Indian  woman,  who  wished  to  see  her  rela- 
tions there.  As  the  distance  was  short,  and  we 
were  to  iish  by  the  way,  we  took  no  other  provision 
than  a  quart  of  maize  for  each  person. 

On  the  first  night,  we  encamped  on  the  island  of 
Nanibojou,  and  set  our  net.  We  certainly  neg. 
Iccted  the  customary  oiierings,and  an  Indian  woukl 
not  fail  to  attribute  it  to  this  cause,  thul  in  ihc  night 


I 


n^ 


tHAVfitS  AM6 


[A.  U. 


i' 


■  ft. 
Mm 


k* 


there  ardse  d  viol^m  dtoitti/ wbieh  continued  for 
three  days,  in  which  it  was  impdssible  for  us  to  visit 
our  net.  In  consequence,  we  subsisted  ourselve* 
on  our  maize,  the  whole  of  which  we  nearly  finish- 
ed. On  the  evening  of  the  third  day,  the  storm 
abated,  and  we  hastened  to  examine  the  net.  It 
was  gone.  To  return  ^to  Michipicoten  was  im- 
possible, the  wind  being  ahead ;  and  we  steered 
therefore  for  the  Sault.  But,  in  the  evening,  the 
wind  came  rounds  and  blew  a  gait  all  that  night, 
and  for  the  nine  following  days.  Di^ring  all  this 
time,  the  waves  were  so  high,  and  broke  so  vio- 
lently on  the  beach,  that  a  canoe  could  not  be  put 
into  the  water. 

When  we  first  disembarked,  we  had  not  enough 
maize  to  afford  a  single  day's  provision  for  our 
party,  consisting,  as  it  did,  of  five  persons.  What 
there  was,  we  consumed  on  the  first  evening,  reck^ 
oning  upon  a  prosperous  voyage  the  next  morn- 
ing. On  the  first  and  second  days,  I  went  out  to 
hunt ;  but,  after  ranging  for  many  miles  among  the 
mountains,  I  returned,  in  both  instances  without 
success.  On  the  third  day,  I  found  myself  too 
weak  to  walk  many  yards  without  stopping  to  rest 
myself;  and  I  returned  in  the  evening  with  no 
more  than  two  snow-birds.* 


■K 


£fnberiza  hyemaUs. 


^ 


#»■ 


if«i.3 


ADVEMTTtrilCS. 


jQI 


wOn  mjr aftivid,  one  of  mymeii  inlbrmed  me, 
that  the  other  two  had  proposed  to  kill  and  feed 
upon  the  young  woman  ;  and,  on  my  examining 
them  as  to  the  truth  of  this  ac  .usation,  they  ftcely 
avowed  it,  and  seemed  to  be  much  dissatisfied  at 
my  opposition  to  their  scheme^ 


The  next  morning,  I  ascended  a  lofty  mouii<>- 
tain,  on  the  top  of  which  I  found  a  very  high  rocky 
and  this  covered  with  a  lichen,  which  the  Chipe- 
wiays  call  waaci  and  the  Canadians/  tripe  dt  roche. 
I  had  fireviously  been  informed,  that  on  occasions 
of  famine,  this  vegetable  has  often  been  resorted  to 
for  food.  No  sooner,  therefore,  had  I  discovered 
it,  than  I  began  to  descend  the  mountain,  to  fetch 
the  men  and  the  Indian  woman.  The  woman 
was  well  acquainted  with  the  mode  of  preparitig^ 
tiie  lichen  fisr  the  stomach,  which  is  done  by  boiling 
it  down  into  a  mucilage,  as  thick  as  the  white  of  an 
egg/  In  a  ^ort  time,  we  obtained  a  hearty  meal; 
for  though  our  food  was  of  a  bitter  and  disagreea- 
ble taste,  we  felt  too  much  joy  in  finding  it,  and  too 
much  relief  in  eating  it,  not  to  partake  of  it  with 
appetite  and  pleasure.  As  to  the  rest,  it  saved 
tjie  life  of  the  poor  woman;  for  the  men,  who 
had  projected  to  kill  her,  would  unquestionably 
have  accomplished  their  purpose.  One  of  them 
gave  me  to  understand,  that  he  was  not  absolutely  a 
novice  in  such  an  affair  ;  that  he  had  wintered  in 


WK 


m 


aSST: 


TRAVELS,  &c. 


[ir«8. 


the  nordiwest/and  had  been  obliged  to  eat  human 
flesh. 

On  the  evening  of  the  ninth  day,  the  wind  fell, 
and  our  canoe  was  launched,  though  not  without 
difficulty,  from  the  weakly  state  of  the  crew.  We 
paddled  all  night,  but  continually  fell  asleep  ;  and 
whenever  my  own  eyes  were  closed,  I  dreamed  of 
temptittg  food« 


till'  J 

if  i 


n 


.'vThe  next  morning,  we  discovered  two  canoes  of 
Indians,  on  their  way  from  the  Sault.  On  inform- 
ing them  of  our  condition,  they  supplied  us  with 
as  many  fish  as  we  were  willing  to  accept ;  and  no 
sooner  were  we  possessed  of  this  treasure,  than  wc 
put  ashore,!  made  a  fire,  and  refreshed  ourselves  with 
a  plentiful  breakfast.  At  night,  we  reached  the 
Sault.  Our  change  of  diet  had  very  serious  effects 
upon  our  health  ;  ^o  that,  for  myself,  I  had  nearly 
fallen  a  victim :  but,  after  a  few  days,  we  recovered, 
and  returned  safely  to  Michipicoten. 


m 


-M- 


K- 


[1768; 


luman 


d  fell, 
without 
.  Wc 
>;  a^id 
^med  of 


uioesof 
inform- 
us  with 
and  no 
than  we 
[ves  with 
;hed  the 
IS  effects 
id  nearly 
jcovered, 


s»i' 


CHAPTER  VL 

lie  de  Maurepas,  Island  of  Yellow  Sands*  Fables 
and  Traditions.  Attempt  to  cultivate  a  Garden 
at  Mtchipicoten,  Mine-Company  of  Lake  Su' 
perior  established* 

IN  the  spring  of  1769,  as  soon  as  the  lake  was 
cleared  of  ice,  I  embarked  with  two  Jndiar.s,  to 
visit  the  Island  of  Michipicoten,  or  He  de  Maure- 
pas, distant  ten  leagues^  As  we  approached  it,  it 
appeared  large  and  mountainous.  The  Indians  had 
informed  me,  that  it  contained  shining  rocks,  and 
stones  of  rare  description.  I  found  it  one  solid 
rock,  thinly  covered  with  soil,  except  in  the  val. 
leys;  but  generally  well  wooded.  Its  circum- 
ference is  twelve  leagues.  On  examining  the 
surface,  I  saw  nothing  remarkable,  except  large 
veins  of  transparent  spar,  and  a  mass  of  rock,  at 
the  south  end  of  the  island,  which  appeared  to  be 
composed  of  iron-ore. 

Disappointed  in  my  expectations  here,  my  cu- 
riosity was  raised  anew,  by  the  account  given  tnc 
by  my  companions,  of  another  idand,  altnost  as 


III 


'I 


224 


TRAVELS  AND 


£A.  D. 


*  Ml 


large  as  that  on  which  I  was,  and  lying  a  little  fur. 
ther  to  the  southward.  This  they  described  as 
covered  with  a  heavy  yellow  sand,  which  I  was 
credulous  enough  to  fancy  must  be  gold.  All  they 
knew,  however,  of  the  island  and  its  heavy  yellow 
sand,  was  from  the  report  of  some  of  their  ances- 
tors, concerning  whom  a  tradition  had  come  down 
to  them,  that  being  blown  upon  the  former  by  a 
gtorm,  they  had  escaped  with  difficulty  from  the 
enormous  snakes  by  which  it  is  inliabited,  and 
which  are  the  guardians  of  the  yeUow  san^**  I  was 


*  Captain  Carver,  who  visited  Lake  Superior  about  the 

y^ar  1766,  learned  something  of  the  fables  of  the  yellow 

sand,  though  he  places  the  treasure  upon  the  lie  de  Mau^ 

repas,  and  falls  into  other  errors.     His  observations  are  as 

follow  :— »"  There  are  many  islands  in  this  lake,  two  of 

<t  which  are  very  large  ;  and  if  the  land  of  them  is  proper 

(<  for  cultivation,  there  appears  to  be  sufficient  to  form  on 

^  each  a  considerable  pro'rince  ;  especially  on  He  Royale, 

^  which  cannot  be  less  than  a  htndred  miles  long,  and  in 

«  many  places  forty  broad.     But,  there  is  no  way  at  present 

^<  c^  ascertaining  the  exact  length  or  breadth  of  either. 

'<  Even  the  French)  who  always  kept  a  small  schooner  on 

« this  lake,  whilst  they  were  in  possession  of  Canada,  by 

"  which  they  could  have  made  this  discovery,  have  only  ac- 

«  quired  a  slight  knowledge  of  the  external  parts  of  these 

<<  islands  :  at  least,  they  have  never  published  any  account 

^<  of  the  internal  parts  of  them,  that  I  could  get  intelli- 

^'genceqf. 


■4,- 


uD. 


1769.] 


ADVENTURES. 


225 


sfur- 

:d  as 

[  was 

Ithey 

yellow 

ances- 

jdown 

X  by* 
•oiathc 

jd,  and 
It  I  was 

about  the 
jip  yellow 
e  dc  Mau- 
Lons  are  as 
l^e,  two  of 
n  is  proper 
to  form  on 
lie  Royale, 
>ng»  and  in 
at  present 
of  either, 
jbooner  on 
[canada,  by 
Lve  only  ac- 
irts  of  these 
xny  account 
get  intelli- 


cager  to  visit  so  remarkable  a  spot,  and  being  told 
that  in  clear  weather  it  was  visible  from  the  south- 


<*  Nor  •^as  I  able  to  discover,  from  any  of  the  conversa- 
**  tions  which  I  had  with  the  neighbouring  Indians,  that 
"  they  had  ever  made  any  settlements  on  them,  or  even 
"  landed  there,  on  their  hunting  excursions.  From  what 
^<  I  could  gather  by  their  discourse,  they  suppose  them  to 
**  have  been,  from  the  first  formation,  the  residence  of  the 
*<  Great  Spirit ;  and  relate  many  magical  tricks,  that  had 
**  been  experienced  by  such  as  were  obliged  through  stress 
*^  of  weather  to  take  shelter  on  them. 

**  One  of  the  Chipeways  told  me,  that  some  of  theii' 
<<  people  were  once  driven  on  the  Island  de  Maurcpas, 
<f  which  Hes  to  the  north-east  part  of  the  lake,  and  found  on 
*^  it  large  (j^ntities  of  heavy,  shining  yellow  sand,  that  from 
^<  their  desCTipdon  must  have  been  gold-dust.  '  Being  struck 
<<  with  the  beautiful  appearance  of  it,  in  the  morning,  when 
«  they  re-entered  their  canoe,  they  attempted  to  bring  some 
*<  away ;  but,  a  spirit  of  amazing  size,  according  to  their 
**  account,  sixty  feet  in  height,  strode  into  the  water,  after 
**  them,  and  commanded  them  to  deliver  back  what  they 
*<  had  taken  away.  Terrified  at  ms  gigantic  stature,  and 
«  seeing  that  he  had  nearly  overtaken  jthem,  they  were  glad 
"  to  restore  their  shining  treasure  ;  on  which  they  were  suf- 
**  fered  to  depart  without  further  molestation.  Since  this 
"  incident,  no  Indian,  that  has  ever  heard  of  it,  will  venture 
"  near  the  same  haunted  coast,  flesidesthis,  they  recounted 
"  to  me  many  other  stories  of  these  islands,  equally  fabu- 
"  lous."— -T^ree  Years*  Travels  through  the  Interior  Parts 
of  North  America^  isfc.  By  Ca/itaiii  Jonathan  Carver,  of  (he 
Provincial  TroofiSy  iJfc,        ^ 

29 


llftf'f^l 


ivl   '♦li:  ■  i    '1^3 


i  <1 


226 


TRAVELS^  Ice, 


fim. 


ward  of  the  lie  de  Maurepas,  I  wait^  there  two 
days ;  but,  the  weather  continuing  hazy,  I  returned 
unsatisfied  to  my  post. 


This  year,  I  attempted  to  cultivate  culmary  ve- 
getables at  Michipicoten ;  but  without  success. 
It  was  not  at  this  time  believed,  diat  the  potatoe 
could  thrive  at  Michitimackinac.  At  Michipico- 
ten, the  small  quantity  of  diis  root  which  I  raised 
was  destroyed  by  the  frost,  in  the  ensuing  winter. 


U,i 


'     Vi 


In  1770,  Mr.  Baxter,  who  had  sailed  for  En- 
gland, returned,  bringing  with  him  papers,  by 
which,  with  Mr.  Bostwick  and  himself,  I  was  con- 
stituted a  joint-agent  and  partner,  in  and  for  a  com- 
pany of  adventurers  for  working  the  miny  of  Lake 
Superior.  We  passed,  the  winter  together  at  the 
Sault  de  Sainte- Marie,  and  built  a  barge,  fit  for  the 
navigation  of  the  lake ;  at  the  same  time  laying 
the  keel  of  a  sloop  of  forty  tons.  Early  in  May, 
1771,  the  lake  becoming  navigable,  we  departed 
from  Point  aux  fins,  our  ship-yard,  at  which 
there  is  a  safe  harbour,  and  of  which  the  distance 
from  the  Sault  is  three  leagues.  We  sailed  for 
the  Island  of  Yellow  Sands,  prombing  ourselves  to 
make  our  fortunc^s,  in  defiance  of  its  serpents. 


'J 


i      f 


??r.; 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Visit  the  Island  of  Yellofw  Sands,     Operations  of 
the  Mine-  Company — its  dissolution.  ^ 

AFTER  a  search  of  two  days,  we  discovered 
the  island  with  our  glass  ;  and  on  the  third  morn- 
ing, the  weather  being  fair,  steered  for  it  at  an  early  . 
hour.     At  two  o*elock  in  the  afternoon,  we  dis- 
embarked upon  the  beach. 

I  was  the  first  to  land,  carrying  with  me  my 
loaded  gun,  and  resolved  to  meet  with  courage  the 
guardiansof  the  gold.  But,  as  we  ha&  not  hap- 
pened to  run  our  barge  upon  the  yello\if*feinds  in 
the  first  instance,  so  no  immediate  attack  was  to  be 
feared.  A  wopd  was  before  us,  at  some  little  dis- 
tance  from  ihe  water's  edge ;  and  I  presently 
discovered  the  tracks  of  rflinio«ar. 

Soon  after  I  entered  the  woods^.  three  of  these 
animals  discovered  themselves,  and  turning  round, 
gazed  at  me  with  much  apparent  surprise.  I  fired 
at  one  of  them  and  killed  it ;  and  at  a  mile  farther 
I  killed  a  second.     Their  size  was  equal  to  that  of 


<*i 


V 


^Iflr 


228 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


a  three-year  old  heifer.  The  day  foFowing,  I  kiOed 
liiree.     , 

The  island  is  much  smaller  thF.n  I  had  been  led 
to  suppose  it ;  its  circumferen'^  not  exceeding 
twelve  miles.  It  is  very  low,  and  contains  many 
small  lakes.  These  latter  I  conjecture  to  have 
been  prp^lpi^ed  by  the  damming  up  of  the  streams  by 
beaver,  i^i^gh  those  animals  must  have  left  the 
island,  or  perished,  after  destroying  the  wood.  The 
only  high  land  is  toward  the  east. 

A  stay  of  three  days  did  not  enable  us  to  find 
I  gold,  nor  even  the  yellow  sands^At  the  same4ime» 
no  serpents  appeared,  to  terrify  us  ;  not  even  the 
smallest  and  most  harmless  snake.  But,  to  support 
the  romance,  it  might  be  inferred,  that  the  same 
agency  which  hid  the  one  had  changed  the  other ; 
and  why  diould  not  the  magic  of  the  place  display 
itself  in  a  thousand  viuied  exhibitions  ?  Why 
should  not  the  serpents  have  been  transformed  into 
hawks  ?  and  why  should  not  the  demons  delight  in 
belying  every  succeeding  visitor,  by  never  showing 
the  same  objects  twice?  Sure  I  am,  that  the  hawks 
abounded  when  we  were  there.  They  hovered 
round  us,  and  appeared  even  angry  at  om*  in- 
trusion, pecking  at  us,  and  keeping  us  in  conti- 
nual alarm  for  our  faces.  One  of  them  actuallv 
took  nly  cap  from  off  my  head. 


1771.] 


ADVENTURES. 


229 


i  i  On  oiie  of  the  lakes,  we  saw  geese ;  apd  there  were 
aTelw  pigeons.  The  only  four-footed  animal  was 
the  caribou,  and  this,  it  is  probable,  was  first  con« 
veyed  to  the  island  on  some  mass  of  drifting  ice. 
It  was  however  no  new  inhabitant ;  for,  in  nume- 
rous instances,  I  found  the  bones  of  rart6otAr,appa« 
rently  in  entire  skeletons,  with  only  the  tops  of 
their  horns  projecting  from  die  surface,  while  moss 
or  vegetable  earth  concealed  the  rest.  Skeletons 
were  so  frequent,  as  to  suggest  a  belief,  that  want 
of  foodj  in  this  confined  situation,  had  been  thQ 
destruction  of  many ;  nor.  is  any  thing  more  proba- 
ble :  and  yet  the  absence  of  beasts  of  prey  might 
be  the  real  cause.  In  forests  more  ordinarily  circum- 
stanced, the  graminivorou&^animals  must  usually 
fall  a  prey  to  the  carnivorous,  long  before  the  arrival 
of  old  age  ;  but,  in  an  asylum  such  as  this,  they 
may  await  the  decay  of  nature. 

The  alarm  of  these  animals,  during  our  stay,  was 
manifested  in  the  strongest  .manner.  At  our  first 
arrival,  they  discovered  mere  surprise,  running  off 
to  a  distance,  and  then  returning,  as  if.  out  of  cu- 
riosity to  examine  the  strangers.  Soon^  however, 
they  discovered  Jis  to  be  dangerous  visitors,  and 
then  took  to  running  from  one  place  to  another,  in 
confusion.  In  the  three  days  of  our  stay,  we  killed 
thirteen. 


"' ':  n 


'^iHl 

MM,!^ 

'^1 

bSbRi)^^ 

'<■ 

j^Hiij 

W 

^Hi!i 

« 

Hiii 

Jfwr 


830 


TRAVELS  AKH 


[A.D. 


The  island  is  distant  sixty  miles  from  the  north 
shore  of  Lake  Superior.  There  is  no  land  visible 
to  the  south  of  it,  except  a  small  island,  on  which 
we  landed.* 


m 


m 


1 1 

I  '  v.. 


On  the  fourth  day»  after  drying  out  cariboux- 
meat^  we  sailed  for  Nanibojou,  which  we  reached 
in  eighteen  hours,  with  a  fair  breeze.  On  the  next 
day,  the  miners  examined  the  coast  of  Nanibojou, 
and  found  several  veins  of  copper  and  lead ;  and 
after  this  returned  to  Point  aux  Pins,  where  we 
erected  an  air-furnace.  The  assayer  made  a  report 
on  the  ores  which  we  had  collected,  stating  that 
the  lead-ore  contained  silver  in  the  proportion  of 
forty  ounces  to  a  ton ;  but,  the  copper-ore,  only  in 
very  small  proportion  indeed. 

From  Point  aux  Pins,  we  crossed  to  the  south 
side  of  the  lake,  and  encamped  on  Point  aux  Iro- 
quois. 


1^ 


Mr.  Norburg,  a  Russian  gentleman,  acquainted 
with  metals,  and  holding  a  commission  in  the  six- 
tieth regiment,  and  then  in  garrison  at  Michili- 
mackinac,  accompanied  |is  on  this  latter  expedition. 
As  we  rambled,    examining  the  shodsy  or  loose 


*  The  iladcr  is  not  to  look  into  any  gazetteer  for  the 
Island  f^  Yellovf  Sands.  It  is  perhaps  that  which  the  Frc^nch 
denominated,  the  lie  de  Pontctiartrain. 


1772.] 


ADVENTURES. 


fi(b 


Stones,  in  search  of  minerals,  Mr.  Norburg;  chanced 
to  meet  with  one,  of  eight  pounds  weight,  of  a  blue 
colour,  and  semi-transparent.  I'his  he  carried  to 
England,  where  it  produced  in  the  proportion  of 
sixty  pounds  of  silver  to  a  hundred  weight  of  ore. 
It  was  reposited  in  the  British  Museum.  The  same 
Mr.  Norburg  was  shortly  afterward  appointed  to  the 
government  of  Lake  George,  in  the  province  of 
New-York, 

Hence,  we  coasted  westward ;  but  found  nothing 
till  we  reached  the  Ontonagan,  where,  besides  the 
detached  masses  of  copper,  formerly  mentioned, 
we  saw  much  of  the  same  metal  bedded  in  stone. 
Proposing  to  ourselves  to  make  a  trial  on  the  hill, 
till  we  were  better  able  to  go  to  work  upon  the 
solid  rock,  we  built  a  house,  and  sent  to  tlie  Sault 
de  Sainte-Marie  for  provisions.  At  the  spot,  pitch- 
ed upon  for  the  commencement  of  our  prepara- 
tions, a  green-coloured  water,  which  tinged  iron  of 
a  copper-colour,  issued  from  the  hill ;  and  this  the 
miners  called  a  leader.  In  digging,  they  found  fre- 
quent masses  of  copper,  ♦some  of  which  were  of 
three  pounds  weight.  Having  arranged  every  thing 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  miners  during  the 
winttr,  we  returned  to  the  Sault. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1772,  we  sent  a  boat- 
load of  provisions  ;   but,  it  came  back  on  the 


m 


tHAv  FX8  ktm 


[A.D. 


twentieth  day  of  June,  bnnging  with  it.  to  otir 
mirjiriae,  the  whole  eatabUshinent  of  miners.  They 
reported,  that  in  the  conme  of  the  winter  they 
had  penetrated  forty  feet  into  the  hill ;  but,  that  on 
the  arrival  of  the  thaw,  the  clay,  on  which,  on  ac- 
count of  its  atiifness,  they  had  reliedi  and  neglected 
to  secure  it  by  supporters, had  fallen  in:  that  to  re- 
commence their  search  .would  be  attended  with 
much  labour  and  cost ;  that  from  the  detached 
masses  of  metal,  which  to  the  last  had  doily  pre- 
aented  themselves,  they  supposed  there  might  be 
ultimately  reached  some  body  of  the  same,  but 
could  form  no  conjecture  of  its  distance,  except 
that  it  was  probably  so  far  off  as  not  to  be  pursued 
without  sinking  an  mr-shaft  :  and,  lastly,  that  this 
work  would  require  the  hands  of  more  men  than 
could  be  fed,  in  the  actual  situation  of  the  country. 


;■* 


Here  our  operations  in  this  quarter  ended.  The 
metal  was  probably  within  our  reach  ;  but,  if  we 
had  found  it,  the  expense  of  carrying  it  to  Mon- 
treal must  have  exceeded  its  marketable  value.  It 
was  never  for  the  exportation  of  copper  that  our 
company  was  formed ;  but,  always  with  a  view  to 
the  silver  which  it  was  hoped  the  ores,  whether  of 
copper  or  lead,  mi§)it  in  sufficient  quantity  con- 
tain. The  copper.'ores  of  Lake  Superior  can  never 
be  proftti4i)ly  sought  for  but  for  local  consumption. 
The  country  must  be  cultiviUed  and  peopled,  bv- 


k 


irraj 


ADVENTIWES. 


233 


fore  they  can  deserve  notice.*    The  neighbouring 
lands  are  good*    I  distributed  seed-muize  among 


*  Th«  copper«ininet  of  Lake  Superior  have  been  more 
than  onne  repr«t«nted  to  the  >»orld  in  colours  cupbUle  of  de« 
ceivtnts  fi'eiih  adventurcra  i  and  the  fttutement  in  the  text  will 
not  have  been  ufteleanly  made)  if  it  ahould  at  any  time  terve  aa 
•  beacon  to  the  unwary.    The  author  of  VuyaKes  from  Mon« 
treali  tec.  hai  recently  obiervedt  thiU  the  ''  Americana,  toon 
**  aAer  they  got  |4neasion  of  the  country,  aent  an  engineer  i" 
and  that  he  ^*  should  not  be  surprised  to  hear  of  their  employ* 
**  ing  people  to  work  the  mine.    Indeed."  he  addii  **  it 
**  might  be  well  worthy  the  attention  of  the  British  subject! 
**  to  work  the  mines  on  the  north  coast,  though  they  are  not 
<*  supposed  to  be  so  rich  as  those  on  the  south  /'—and  Captain 
Carver  has  given  the  following  account  of  the  identical  under* 
taking  above  described  i  **  A  company  of  adventurers  from 
**  England  began,  soon  after  the  conquest  of  Canadai  to  bring 
(*  away  some  of  this  metal ;  but  the  di»tracttd  $ituation  ^ 
"  nffmr*  in  jimerica  hua  obii^ed  them  to  reiinQvhh  their  tthftne, 
**  It  might  in  future  times  be  made  a  very  advantageoui 
**  trade  {  as  the  metal,  which  co»t»  nothing  on  the  spot,  and 
**  requirea  but  little  expense  to  get  it  on  board,  could  be  con* 
^*  veyed  in  boats  or  canoes  through  the  I'allaof  huinte*Marir, 
**  to  the  Isle  of  Sahit-Josrph,  which  lies  at  the  bottom  of  the 
"  strait,  near  the  ^^ntrance  into  Lake  Huron  ;  from  thence  it 
*'  might  be  put  on  board  lar^^ei-  vessels,  and  in  them  traiinport- 
<*  ed  across  Umt  lake,  to  Uw  FmIU  ul'  Nia|j;aru  i  then  being  car- 
**  ried  by  land,  across  the  fiortugey  it  oiigltt  be  conveyed  with* 
**  out  much  more  obstruction  lu  Qutbcc.     The  chettpneaa 
**  and  ease  with  which  any  quantity  ol  it  muy  In;  pioiured, 
**  will  make  up  fur  the  length  of  way  thut    in  neccs^yy^  to 
*^  transport  it}tK*foreit  reaches  the  bca-coust  ■,  und  ^Dle*he 

30 


^ 


234 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


the  Indians  here,  which  they  planted  accordingly. 
They  did  the  same  the  following  year,  and  in  both 
instances  had  good  crops.  Whether  or  not  they 
continued  the  practice,  I  cannot  say.  There  might 
be  much  danger  of  their  losing  the  seed  ;  for  their 
way  was,'  to  eat  the  maize  green,  and  save  only  a 
small  quantity  for  sowing. 


*         it 


In  the  following  month  of  AugiA,  we  launched 
our  sloop,  and  carried  the  miners  to  the  vein  of 
copper-ore  on  the  north  side  of  the  lake.  Litde 
was  done  during  the  winter ;  but,  by  dint  of  labour, 
performed  between  the  commencement  of  the 
spring  of  1773,  and  the  ensuing  month  of  Septem- 
ber, they  penetrated  thirty  feet  into  the  solid  rock. 
The  rock  was  blasted  with  great  difficulty  ;  and 
the  vein,  which,  at  the  beginning,  was  of  the 
breadth  of  four  feet,  had  in  the  progress  contract- 
ed into  four  inches.  Under  these  circumstances, 
we  desisted,  and  carried  the  miners  back  to  the 
Sault.  What  copper-ore  we  had  collected,  we  sent 
to  England  ;  but,  the  next  season,  we  were  in- 
formed, that  the  partners  there  declined  entering 
into  further  expenses. — In  the  interim,  we  had 
carried  the  miners  along  the  north  shore,  as  far  as 
the  river  Pic,  making,  however,  no  discovery  of 

<<  propriety  to  send  it  to  foreign  iiiarlt«tft  on  as  good  terms  as 
«  k  <6an  be  exported  from  other  countries."— ^TAree  Yeara* 
TrixvcifiVc, 


[A.D. 

iingly. 
n  both 
ot  they 
i  might 
or  their 
i  only  a 


lunched 
;  vein  of 
Little 
f  labour, 
t  of  the 
Septem- 
ilid  rock, 
Ity  ;  and 
ts  of  the 
contract- 
nstances, 
ck  to  the 
I,  we  sent 
were  in- 
\  entering 
J  we  had 
as  far  as 
icovery  of 

X)d  terms  as 
Vhree  Years* 


1774.] 


ADVENTURES. 


2a5 


importance.  This  year,  therefore,  1774,  Mr.  Bax- 
ter disposed  of  the  sloop,  and  other  effects  of  the 
Company,  and  paid  its  debts* 

The  partners,  in  England,  were  His  Royal  High- 
ness the  Duke  of  Gloucester,  Mr^  Secretary 
Townshend,  Sir  Samuel  Tutchet,  B^net ;  Mr. 
Baxter,  consul  of  the  empress  of  Russia ;  and 
Mr.  Cruickshank  :  in  America,  Sir  William  John  - 
son,  Baronet ;  Mr.  Bostwick,  Mr*  Baxter  and 
myself.  .     . 

A  charter  had  been  petitioned  for,  and  obtmned,; 
but,  owing  to  our  ill  success,  it  was  never  taken 
from  the  seal-office. 

/ 


# 


•  4 


/■ 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


( .1 


Author  goes  into  the  North-  West,  Tete  de  la  LoU' 
tre,  Biver  Pijitic.  Pays  Plat.  River  Nipigon, 
Grand  Portage,  Commercial  animosities.  Car- 
rying-place, River  aux  Groseiiles.  Height  of 
Land,  Lake  Sagunac,  Chipeway  Fillage. 
Lake  h  la  Pluie,  Second  Chipeway  Village. 
River  a  la  Pluie.  Lake  of  the  Woods.  Third 
Chipeway  Village.  Pelicans.  Portage  du 
Rat.  River  Winipegon,  or  fVinipic.  River 
Pinawa.      Carrying-place   of  the  Lost  Child. 

.    Lake    Winipegon,      Christinaux,    or   Crees"^ 
their  dress-^manners — language. 

PENDING  this  enterprise,  I  had  still  pursued 
the  Indian  trade ;  and  on  its  failure  I  applied  my- 
self to  that  employment  with  more  assiduity  than 
ever,  and  resolved  on  visiting  the  countries  to  the 
n&th-west  of  Lake  Superior. 


^  On  the  10th  day  of  June,  1775,  I  left  the  Sault, 
with  goods  and  provisions  to  the  value  of  three 
thousand  pounds  sterling,  on  board  twelve  small 
canoes,  and  four  larger  ones.  The  provisions  made 


1775.] 


TRAVELS,  Sec 


£37 


the  chief  bulk  of  the  cargo ;  no  further  supply  be- 
ing obtainable,  till  we  should  have  advanced  far 
into  the  country.  Each  small  canoe  was  navigated 
by  three  men,  and  each  larger  one  by  four. 


On  the  20th,  we  passed  the  Tete  de  la  Loutre,  or 
Otter's  Head,  so  named  from  a  rock,  of  about  thirty 
feet  in  height,  and  fifteen  in  circumference,and  which 
stands  vertically,  as  if  raised  by  the  hand  of  man. 
What  increases  the  appearance  of  art,  is  a  hollow 
in  the  adjacent  mass  of  rock,  which  its  removal 
might  be  thought  to  have  left.  In  the  evening,  we 
encamped  at  the  mouth  of  the  Pijitic,  ariver  as  large 
as  that  of  Michipicoten,  and  which  in  like  manner 
takes  its  rise  in  the  high  lands  lying  between 
Lake  Superior  and  Hudson's  Bay.  From  Michi- 
picoten to  the  Pijitic,  the  coast  of  the  lake  is  moun- 
tainous :  the  mountains  are  covered  with  pine,  and 
the  valleys  with  spruce-fir. 

.  It  was  by  the  river  Pijitic*  that  the  French  as- 
cended in  1750,  when  they  plundered  one  of  the 
factories  in  Hudson's  Bay,  and  carried  off  the  two 
small  pieces  of  brass  cannon  which  fell  againanto 

*  According  to  Carver,  it  was  by  the  Michipftooten.  If 
he  is  correct,  it  must  have  been  from  Moose  Fort,  in 
James's  Bay,  and  not  from  Fort  Churchill,  that  they  took 
the  cannon. 


1 


238 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D'. 


Bi 


the  hands  of  the  EngUsh  at  Michilimackinac.  ^  On 
the  river  are  a  band  of  Wood  Indians,  who  are 
sometimes  troublesome  to  the  traders  passing. 

S  On  the  21st,  I  left  the  Pijitic,  and  crossing  a 
bay,  three  leagues  in  breadth,  landed  on  Pic  Island. 
From  Pic  Island,  I  coasted  ten  leagues,  and  then 
encamped  on  an  island  opposite  the  Pays  Plat,  or 
Flat  Country,  a  name  borrowed  from  the  Indians, 
and  occasioned  by  the  shoal- water  which  here  ex- 
tends far  into  the  lake,  and  by  the  flat  and  low  lands 
which  lie  between  the  water  and  the  mountains. 

The  Pays  Plat  is  intersected  by  several  large 

rivers,  and  particularly  the  Nipigon,  so  called  after 

LakeNipigon,  of  which  ^k  is  the  discharge.     By 

this  river,  the  French  carried  on  a  considerable 

trade  with  the  Northern  Indians.     They  had  a  fort 

or  trading-house  at  its  mouth,  and  annually  drew 

j  from  it  a  hundred  packs  of  beaver,  of  a  quality 

I  more  in  esteem  than  that  from  the  north-west. 

I  They  had  another  trading-house  at  Caminisdquia. 

— As  we  proceed  north-west  along  the  lake,  the 

mountains  recede  widely  from  the  beach. 

)     On  the  24tli,  I  left  the  northern  shore,  and  in 
f  four  days  reached  the  Grand  Portage.     The  inter- 
vening islands    consist  almost  entirely  in  rock. 
The  largest,  called  Te  au  Tonnerre,  or  Thunder 


IW.] 


ADVENTURES. 


2S9 


Island,  is  said,  by  the  Indians,  to  be  peculiarly  sub- 
ject to  thunder-storms.  At  the  Grand  Portage,  I 
found  the  traders  in  a  state  of  extreme  reciprocal 
hostility,  each  pursuing  his  interests  in  such  a  man- 
ner  as  might  most  injure  his  neighbour.  The  coi^ 
sequences  were  very  hurtful  to  the  morals  of  the 
Indians. 

The  transportation  of  the  goods  at  this  grand 
portage,  or  great  carrying-place ,  was  a  work  of 
seven  days  of  severe  and  dangerous  exertion,  at 
the  end  of  which  we  encamped  on  the  river  Aux 
Groseilles.*  The  Grand  Portage  consistsi  in  two 
ridges  of  land,  between  which  is  a  deep  glen  or 
valley,  with  good  meadow-lands,  and  a  broad  stream 
of  water.  The  lowlands  are  covered  chiefly  with 
birch  and  poplar,  and  the  high  with  pine.  I  was 
now  in  what  is  technically  called  the  north-west ; 
that  is,  the  country  north-west  of  Lake  Superior. 
The  canoes  here  employed  are  smaller  than  those 
which  are  used  between  Montreal  and  Michili- 
mackinac,  and  in  Lake  Superior  ;  being  only  four 
fathom  and  a  half  in  length.  It  is  the  duty  of  the 
head  and  stem  men  to  carry  the  canoe.  I  engaged 
two  of  these  to  winter  with  me,  at  the  wages  of  four 

*  The  same  with  what  a  redent  traveller  describei  as  the 
"  river  du  Tourt,"  (Tourtre,)— "  Dove  or  Pigeon  river." 


M 

,:■■■  fl 
":■  ft 


% 


i 


1 


340 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


% 


hundred  dollars  each,  and  an  equipment  of  the 
value,  at  the  Grand  Portage,  of  one  hundred  more. 

On  the  eighth,  we  ascended  the  Groseilles,  to 
the  carrying-place  called  the  Portage  du  Perdrix, 
where  the  river  falls  down  a  precipice  of  the  height 
of  a  hundred  feet.  At  the  place,  where,  after  passing 
the  Grand  Portage,  we  first  launched  our  canoes  on 
the  Groseilles,  the  stream  is  thirty  jrards  vdde. 
From  this  spot,  it  proceeds,  with  numerous  falls,  to 
Lake  Superior,  which  it  enters  about  six  leagues 
to  the  northward  of  the  Grand  Port:^. 

Next  day,  at  the  Portage  aux  Outardes,  we  left 
the  Groseilles,  and  carrying  our  canoes  and  mer- 
chandise for  three  miles,  over  a  moimtain,  came  at 
length  to  a  small  lake.  This  was  the  beginning  of 
a  chain  of  lakes,  extending  for  fifteen  leagues,  and 
separated  by  carrying-places  of  from  half  a  mile  to 
three  miles  in  length.  At  the  end  of  this  chain, 
we  reached  the  heads  of  small  streams  which  flow 
to  the  north-westward.  The  region  of  the  lakes  is 
called  the  Hauteur  de  Terre,  or  Land^s  Height, 
It  is  an  elevated  tract  of  country,  not  inclining  in 
any  direction,  and  diversified  on  its  surface  with 
small  hills,  llie  wood  is  abundant  ;  but  consists 
pfuicipally  in  birch,  pine,  spruce^  and  a  small 
quantity  of  maple. 


irrs.j 


ADVENTURES. 


241 


By  the  twelfth,  we  arrived  where  the  streams 
were  large  enough  to  float  the  canoes,  with  their 
lading,  though  the  men  walked  in  the  water,  pushing 
them  along.    Next  day,  we  found  them  sufficiendy 
navigable,  though  interrupted    by  frequent  falls 
and  carrying-places.  On  the  twentieth,  we  reached 
^  Lake  Sagunac,  or  Saginaga,  distant  sixty  leagues 
from  the  Grand  Portage.    This  was  the  hither- 
most  post  in  the  north-west,  established  by  the 
^  French  ;  and  there  was  formerly  a  large  vilkige  of 
iChipeways   here,    now   destroyed    by    the    Na* 
dowessies.     I   found   only  three    lodges,    filled 
^with  poor,  ^irty  and  almost  naked  inhabitants,  of 
jwhom  I  bought  fish  and  wild  rice,^  which  latter 
itbey  had  in  great  abundance.    When  populous, 
|this  village  used  to  be  troublesome  to  the  traders, 
obstructing  their  voyages,  and  extorting  liquor  and 
other  arUcles.^    Lake  Sagunac  4s  eight  leagues  in 
length  by  four  in  breadth.     The  lands,  which  are 
every  where  covered  with  spruce,  are  hilly  on  die 
south-west ;  but,  on  th^  north-east  more  level. 
My  men  were  by  this  time  almost  exhausted  with 
fatigue  ;     but,  the  chief  part  of  the  labour  was 
fortunately  past. 

We  now  entered  Lake  a  la  Pluie,  which  is  fifteen 
leagues  long,  by  five  broad.  Its  .banks  are  covered 
with  maple  and  birch.    Our  encampment  was  at 

*  FoUe  avoine,  avena  fatua,  zizania  aquatica. 

'         >  31 


;'<■ 


if  ji.; 
\  >  ■ 


'm 


till' 


242 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


the  mouth  of  the  lake,  where  there  is  a  fall  of  water 
of  forty  feet,  called  the  Chute  de  la  Chaudiere. 
The  carrj^ing-place  is  two  hundred  yards  in  length. 
On  the  next  evening,  we  encamped  at  Les  Four, 
ches,  on  the  River  i  la  Pluie,  where  there  was  a 
village  of  Chipeways,  of  fifty  lodges,  of  whom  I 
bought  new  canoes.  They  insisted  further  on 
having  goods  given  to  them  on  credit,  as  well  as  on 
receiving  some  presents.  The  latter  they  regarded 
as  an  established  tribute,  paid  them  on  account  of 
the  ability  which  they  possessed,  to  put  a  stop  to 
all  trade  with  the  interior.  I  gave  them  rum,  with 
which  they  became  drunk  and  troublesome  ;  and 
in  the  night  I  left  them. 

The  |liver  a  la  Pluie  is  forty  leagues  long,  of  a 
gentle  current,  and  broken  only  by  one  rapid.  Its 
bdnks  are  level  to  a  great  distance,  and  composed 
of  a  fine  soil,  which  was  covered  with  luxuriant 
grass.  They  were  perfect  solitudes,  not  even  a 
canoe  presenting  itself,  along  my  whole  navigation 
of  the  stream.  I  was  greatiy  struck  with  the  beauty 
of  the  scene,  as  well  as  with  its  fitness  for  agricul- 
tural settlements,  in  which  provisions  might  be 
raised  for  the  north-west. 

(  On  the  thirtieth,  we  reached  the  Lake  of  the 
Woods,  or  Lake  des  lies,  at  the  entrance  of  which 
was  an  Indian  village,  of  a  hundred  souls,  where  we 


^ 


17750 


ADVENTUHE9. 


243 


obtained  a  further  supply  of  fish.  Fish  appeared  to 
be  the  summer  food. 

From  this  village,  we  received  ceremonious  pre- 
sents. I'he  mode  with  the  Indians  is,  first  to  col- 
lect all  the  provisions  they  can  spare,  and  place 
them  in  a  heap  ;  after  which  they  send  for  the  tra- 
der, and  address  him  in  a  formal  speech.  They 
tell  him,  that  the  Indians  are  happy  in  seeing  him 
return  into  their  country  ;  that  they  have  been  long 
in  expectation  of  his  arrival ;  that  their  wives  have 
deprived  themselves  of  their  provisions,  in  order  to 
afford  him  a  supply ;  that  they  are  in  great  want, 
being  destitute  of  every  thing,  and  particularly 
of  ammunition  and  clothing ;  and  that  what  they 
most  long  for,  is  a  taste  of  his  rum,  which  they  uni- 
formly denominate  milk. 


The  present,  in  return,  consisted  in  one  keg  of 
gunpowder,  of  sixty  pounds  weight ;  a  bag  of  shot, 
and  another  of  powder,  of  eighty  pounds  each  ;  a 
few  smaller  articles,  and  a  keg  of  rum.  The  last 
appeared  to  be  the  chief  treasure,  though  on  the 
former  depended  the  greater  part  of  their  winter's 
subsistence,  ' 


Vol 


In  a  short  time,  the  men  began  to  drink,  while 
the  women  brought  me  a  furdier  and  very  valuable 
present,  of  twenty  bags  of  rice.  This  I  returned 
^yith  goods  and  rum,  and  at  the  same  time  offered 


244 


TRAVELS  AN© 


[A.D. 


more,  for  an  additional  quantity  of  rice.  A  trade 
ivas  opened,  the  women  bartering  rice,  while 
the  men  were  drinking.  Before  morning,  I  had 
purchased  a  hundred  bags,  of  nearly  a  bushel  mea- 
sure each.  Without  a  large  quantity  of  rice,  the 
voyage  could  not  have  been  prosecuted  to  its  com- 
pletion. The  canoes,  as  I  have  already  observed, 
are  not  large  enough  to  carry  provisions,  leaving 
merchandise  wholly  out  of  the  question*— The 
rice  grows  in  shoal  water,  and  the  Indians  gather  it 
by  sliaking  the  ears  into  their  canoes. 

When  morning  arrived,  all  the  village  was 
inebriated ;  and  the  danger  of  misunderstanding 
was  increased  by  the  facility  with  which  the 
women  al>andoned  themselves  to  my  Canadians. 
In  consequence,  I  lost  no  time  in  leaving  the 
place. 

On  the  first  day  of  August,  we  encamped  on  a 
sandy  island  in  the  Lake  of  the  Woods,  where  we 
were  visited  by  several  canoes,  of  w^hom  we  pur- 
chased wild  rice.  On  the  fourth,  we  reached  the 
Portage  du  Rat. 


J       The  Lake  of  the  Woods  is  thirty-six  leagues 

f  long.     On  the  west  side  is  an  old  French  fort  or 

i   trading-house,  formerly  frequented  by  numerous 

bands  of  Chipeways,  but  these  have  since  been 

almost  entirely  destroyed    by  the  Nadowessies. 


irrs.] 


ADVENTURES. 


U5 


When  strong;,  they  were  troublesome.  On  ac 
count  of  a  particular  instance  oT  pillage,  they  have 
been  called  Pilleurs.  The  pelican  is  numerous  on 
this  lake.  One,  which  we  shot,  agreed  entirely 
with  the  description  of  M.  de  EaflPon. 

On  the  fifth,  we  passed  the  Portage  du  Rat, 
which  is  formed  by  a  rock  of  about  twenty  yards 
long.  Here,  we  met  several  canoes  of  Indians, 
who  all  begged  for  rum ;  but,  they  were  known  to 
belong  to  the  band  of  Fiileursy  also  called  the 
roguesy  and  were  on  that  account  refused. 

From  the  Portage  du  Rat,  we  descended  the  great 
river  Winipegon,  which  is  there  from  one  mile  to 
two  in  breadth,  and  at  ever}*^  league  grows  broader. 
The  channel  is  deep,  but  obstructed  by  many 
islands,  of  which  some  are  large.  For  several 
miles,  the  stream  is  confined  between  perpendicu- 
lar rocks.  The  current  is  strong,  and  the  naviga- 
tion singularly  difficult.  Within  the  space  of  fifteen 
leagues,  there  are  seven  falls,  of  from  fifty  feet 
to  a  hundred  in  height.  At  sixty  leagues  irom  our 
entrance  of  the  Winipegon,  we  crossed  a  carrying- 
place  into  the  Pinawac  ;  below  which,  the  dangers 
of  the  Winipegon  are  still  further  increased.  The 
adjacent  lands  are  mountainous  and  rocky ;  but, 
some  of  the  high  hills  are  well  covered  with  birch 
and  maple. 


}M 


246 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  Dr. 


The  stream  of  the  Pinawa  is  shallow,  and  its  bed 
rocky  and  broken.  The  carrying-places  are  eight 
in  number.  The  mosquitoes  were  here  in  such 
clouds  as  to  prevent  us  from  taking  aim  at  the 
ducks,  of  which  we  might  else  have  shot  many. 

On  the  thirteenth,  we  encamped  at  the  Carrying- 
place  of  ihe  Lost  Child.  Here  is  a  chasm  in  the 
rock,  no  where  more  than  two  yards  in  breadth, 
but  of  great  and  immeasurable  depth.  The  In- 
dians relate,  that  many  ages  past,  a  child  fell  into 
this  chasm,  from  the  bottom  of  which  it  is  still 
heard,'  at  times,  to  cry.  In  all  the  wet  lands,  wild 
rice  grows  plentifully. 


Pi 


The  Pinawa  is  twenty  leagues  long,  and  dischar- 
ges itself  into  Lake  du  Bonnet,*  at  three  leagues 
to  the  north  of  the  mouth  of  the  Winipegon,  which 
falls  into  the  same  lake,  or  rather  forms  it ;  for  Lake 
du  Bonnet  is  only  a  broadened  part  of  the  channel 
of  the  Winipegon.  The  lake  is  two  leagues  broad; 
and  the  river,  in  its  course  below,  continues  broader 
than  it  is  above,  with  many  islands  and  deep  falls  : 
the  danger  of  the  navigation,  however,  is  lessened. 


On  the  sixteenth,  we  reached  Lake  Winipegon, 
at  the  entrance  of  which  is  a  large  village  of  Chris- 
tinaux,  a  nation  which  I  had  not  previously  seen. 


*  Cap  Lake,  in  some  maps' written  Cat  Lake. 


itrsj 


ADVENTURES. 


24,7 


The  name  is  variously  written  ;  as,  Cristinaux, 
Kinistineaux,  Killistinoes  and  Killistinaux.  Lake 
Winipegon  is  sometimes  called  the  Luke  of  the 
Killistinons,  or  Cristinaux.  The  dress  and  other 
exterior  appearances  of  the  Cristinaux  are  very 
distinguishable  from  those  of  the  Chipeways  and 
the  Wood  Indians. 


The  men  were  almost  entirely  naked,  and  their 
bodies  painted  with  a  red  ochre,  procured  in  the 
mountains,  and  often*  called  vermilion.  Every  man 
and  boy  had  his  bow  strung  and  in  his  hand,  and 
his  arrow  ready,  to  attack  in  case  of  need.  Their 
heads  were  shaved,  or  the  hair  plucked  out,  all 
over,  except  a  spot  on  the  crown,  of  the  diameter 
of  a  dollar.  On  this  spot,  the  hair  grew  long,  and 
was  rolled  and  gathered  into  a  tuft ;  and  the  tuft, 
which  is  an  object  of  the  greatest  care  was  covered 
with  a  piece  of  skin.  The  ears  were  pierced,  and  fill- 
ed with  the  bones  of  fish  and  of  land  animals. — Such 
was  the  costume  of  the  young  men  ;  but,  among 
the  old,  some  let  their  hair  grow  on  all  parts  of 
their  head,  without  any  seeming  regard. 

The  women  wear  their  hair  of  a  great  length, 
both  behind  and  before,  dividing  it  on  the  forehead 
and  at  the  back  of  the  head,  and  collecting  the  hair 
of  each  side  into  a  roll,  which  is  fastened  above  the 
car ;  and  this  roll,  like  the  tuft  on  the  heads  of  the 
men,  is  covered  with  a  piece  of  skin.    The  skin  is 


■i^Wl 


i;?-' 


1    .ill! 


I  , 


■^t^. 


m^ 


# 


248 


\ 

TRAVELS  AND 


CAP. 


painted,  or  else  ornamented  with  beads  of  various 
colours.  The  rolls,  with  their  coverings,  resemble 
a  pair  of  large  horns.  The  ears  of  the  women  are 
pierced  and  decorated,  like  those  of  the  men. 

Their  clothing  is  of  leather,  or  dressed  skins  of 
the  wild  ox  and  the  elk.  The  dress,  falling  from  the 
shoulders  to  below  the  knee,  is  of  one  entire  piece. 
Girls  of  an  early  age  wear  their  dresses  shorter  than 
those  more  advanced.  The  same  garment  covers 
the  shouldei^.  and  the  bosom  ;  and  is  fastened  by 
a  strap  which  passes  over  the  shoulders  :  it  is  con- 
fined about  the  waist  by  a  girdle.  The  stockings 
are  of  leather,  made  in  the  fashion  of  leggings. 
The  arms,  to  the  shoulders,  are  left  liaked,  or  are 
provided  with  sleeves,  which  are  sometimes  put 
on,  and  sometimes  suffered  to  hang  vacant 
from  the  shoulders.  The  wrists  are  adorned 
with  bracelets  of  copper  or  brass,  manufactured 
from  old  kettles.  In  general,  one  person  is  worth 
but  one  dress ;  and  this  is  worn  as  long  as  it  will 
last,  or  till  a  new  one  is  made,  and  then  thrown 
away. 


The  women,  like  the  men,  paint  their  faces 
with  red  ochre ;  and  in  addition  usually  tatoo  two 
lines,  reaching  from  the  lip  to  the  chin,  or  from  the 
comers  of  the  mouth  to  the  ears.  They  omit  no- 
thing to  make  themselves  lovely. 


i.rrs.] 


ADVENTURES. 


249 


Meanwhile,  a  favourite  employment  is  that  of 
wagii^  war  with  certain  animals  which  are  in  abun- 
dance on  their  persons,  and  which,  as  they  catch, 
they  eat.  To  frequent  inquiries,  as  to  the  motive 
for  eating  them,  I  was  always  answered,  that  they 
afforded  a  medicinal  food,  and  great  preventive  of 
diseases. 


Such  are  the  exterior  beauties  of  the  female 
Cristinaux  ;  and,  not  content  with  the  power  be- 
longing to  these  attractions,  they  condescend  to  be- 
guile, with  gentle  looks,  the  hearts  of  passing  stran- 
gers. The  men,  too,  unlike  the  Chipeways,  (who 
areof  a  jealous  temper,)  eagerly  encourage  them 
in  this  design.  One  of  the  chiefs  assured  me,  that 
the  children,  borne  by^  their  women  to  Europeans, 
were  bolder  warribrs,  and  better  hunters,  ^than 
themselves.  % 

The  Cristinaux  have  usually  two  wives  each, 
and' often  three ;  and  make  no  difficulty  in  lending 
one  of  them,  for  a  length  of  time,  to  a  friend. 
Some  of  my  men  entered  into  agreements  with  the 
respective  husbands,  in  virtue  of  which  they  em- 
barked the  women  in  the  canoes,  promising  to 
return  them  the  next  year.  The  women,  so 
selected,  consider  themselves  as  honoured  ;  and 
the  husband,  who  should  refuse  to  lend  his  wife, 
would  fall  under  the  condemnation  of  the  sex  in 
general. 

32 


'l!!!,  i 


1 '    "  !« 


11  ii; 


250 


TRAVELS,  y . 


[irrs. 


The  language  of  the  Cristinaux  is  a  dialeot  of 
the  Algonquin,  and  therefore  bears  some  affinity  to 
that  of  the  Chipeway,  which  is  another  dialect  of 
the  same.  In  the  north-west,  it  is  commonly  call- 
ed Qree^  or  Cris. 


•  « 


CHAPTER  IX* 

t^oyage  in  the  North-  West  continued*  Snow-stortm 
jRiuerde  Bourbon^  Pasquaydh^  6r  Sascatchiwaine* 
Grand  Rapide,  Lake  Winipegon — dimensions^ 
ts'Ci  Lake  de  Bourbon^  or  Cedar  Lake.  Fort 
de  Bourbon,  River  Pasquayah,  Pasquayah 
Village — Traders  forced  to  comply  with  the  de* 
mands  of  the  Indians,  Cumberland  House.  Stur- 
geon Lake,  River  MaHgne,  Beaver  Lake. 
Build  a  Fort'^and  winter  in  it* 

THE  Cristinaujt  made  me  the  usual  presents  of 
wild  rice  and  dried  meat,  and  accompanied  them 
with  the  usual  formalities.  I  remained  at  their  viU 
lage  two  days,  repairing  my  canoes  ;  and  though 
they  were  drunk  the  whole  tiipe,  they  behaved  very 
peaceably^  and  gave  me  no  annoyance.  I  obser- 
ved that  two  men  constantly  attended  us,  and 
that  these  individuals  could  not  be  prevailed  upon 
to  taste  liquor.  They  had  been  assigned  us  for  a 
guard  ;  and  they  would  not  allow  any  drunken  In- 
dian to  approach  our  camp* 

On  the  eighteenth  of  August,  I  left  these  amica- 
ble people,  among  \^'hom  an  intercourse  with  Euro- 


5*%^ 


\ 


Mr'  1 


i-  »'  M 


ill 


if 


i 


€ 


•\4 


ii!'''H 


Hi 


'I  \ 


\"  " 


lii,li,'':t: 


It: 


mm 


252. 


TRAVELS  AND 


V 


[A.D. 


peahs  appeared  to  have  occasioned  less  deviation 
from  their  primitive  manners,  than  in  any  instance 
which  I  had  previously  discovered.  I  kept  the  north 
side  of  the  lake,  and  had  not  proceeded  far  before  I 
was  joined  by  Mr.  Pond,  a  trader  of  some  celebrity 
in  the  north-west.  Next  day,  we  encountered  a  se- 
vere gale,  from  the  dangers  of  which  we  escaped, 
by  making  the  island  called  the  Buffalo's  Head ; 
but,  not  without  the  loss  of  a  canoe  and  four  men. 
The  shores,  from  the  entrance  of  this  lake  to  the 
island,  with  exception  of  the  points,  are  rocky  and 
lofty  :  the  points  are  rocky,  but  low.  The  wood 
is  pine  and  fir.  We  took  pouts,  cat-fish,  or  cat- 
heads, of  six  pounds  weight. 


('it  .rf 
r 


m 


On  the  twenty-first,  we  crossed  to  the  south 
shore,  and  reached  Oak-point,  so  called  from  a  few 
scrub  oaks,  which  here  begin  to  diversify  the  forest 
of  pine  and  fir.  The  pelicans,  which  we  every 
where  saw,  ^peai^d  to  be  impatient  of  the  long 
stay  we  made  in  fishing.  Leaving  the  island, 
we  found  the  latids  along  the  shore  low,  and  wood- 
ed with  birch  and  marsh-maple,  intermixed  with 
spruce-fir.  The  beach  is  gravelly,  and  the  points 
rocky. 

To  the  westward  of  Pike-river,  which  we  passed 
on  the  first  of  September,  is  a  rock,  of  great  length, 
called  the  Roche  Rouge,  and  entirely  composed 
oSaJfibrre  ^  calumet,  or  stone  used  l^y  the  Indiani^ 


iry^.y 


ADVENTURED 


•Ji 


353 


for  making  tobacco-pipe  bowls.  It  is  of  a  light  red 
colour,  interspersed  with  veins  of  brown,  and  yields 
veiy  readily  to  the  knife. 

On  the  seventh  of  September,  we  were  overtaken 
by  Messrs.  Joseph  and  Thomas  Frobisher,  and 
Mr.  Patterson.  On  the  twentieth,  we  crossed  the 
bay  together,  composing  a  fleet  of  thirty  canoes, 
and  a  hundred  and  thirty  men.  We  were  short  of 
provisions. 

On  the  twenty-first,  it  blew  hard,  and  snow  be- 
gan to  fall.  The  storm  continued  till  the  twenty- 
fifth,  by  which  time  the  small  lakes  were  frozen 
over,  and  two  feet  of  snow  lay  on  level  ground,  in 
the  woods.  This  early  severity  ofthe  season  filled 
us  with  serious  alarms ;  for  the  country  was  unin- 
habited for  two  hundred  miles  on  every  side  of  us, 
and  if  detained  by  winter,  our  destruction  was  cer* 
tain.  In  this  state  of  peril,  we  continued  our  voyage 
day  and  night.  The  fears  of  our  men  were  a  suf- 
ficient motive  for  their  exertions. 

On  the  first  of  October,  we  gained  the  mouth  of 
the  River  de  Bourbon,   Pasquayah,  or  Sascatchi- 

waine,^  and  proceeded  to  ascend  its  stream.    The 

•* 

*  The  lower  part  of  the  Sascatchiwraine  was  once  called 
the  River  de  Bourbon.  Patguayah  is  the  name  of  an  upper 
{kortion  of  the  Sascatchiwaine . 


iMI- 


,  I'lii 


.  I 


:::! 


;  I!'  ' 


^., 


^ 


254 


• » 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A*». 


sib'  l-l 


.14 


Bourbon  is  a  large  river,  and  has  its  sources  to  the 
westward  The  lands,.which  we  passed  after  the 
twenty-first  of  September,  are  more  hilly  and  rocky 
than  those  described  before.  The  trees  are  poplar 
and  spruce.  The  rocks  are  chiefly  of  lime-stone. 
Our  course,  from  the  entrance  of  Lake  Winipegon, 
was  north-west  northerly.  The  lake  contains  stur- 
geon ;  but,  we  were  not  able  to  take  any.  At  four 
leagues  above  the  mouth  of  the  river,  is  the  Grand 
Rapide,  two  leagues  in  length,  up  which  the  ca- 
noes arc  dragged  with  ropes.  At  the  end  of  this  is 
a  carr}'ing-place  of  two  miles,  through  a  forest  al- 
most uniformly  of  pine-trees.  Here,  we  met  with 
Indians,  fishing  for  sturgeon.  Their  practice  is,  to 
watch  behind  the  points  where  tl^e  current  forms  an 
eddy,  in  which  ^e  sturgeon,  coming  to  rest  them- 
selves, are  easily  speared.  The  soil  is  light  and 
sandy.  A  vesseUof  any  burden  might  safely  navi- 
gate Lake  Winipegon,  from  its  south-west  comer 
to  the  Grand  Rapide. 


Lake  Winipegon,  or  Winipic,  or  the  Lake  of 
the  Killistinons,  or  Cristinaux,  empties  itself  into 
Hudson's  Bay,  at  Fort  York,  by  a  river,  sometimes 
called  Port-Nelson  River.  Its  length  is  said  to  be 
one  hundred  and  twenty  leagues.  Its  breadth  is 
unknown.  I  saw  no  land,  in  any  direction,  after 
leaving  Oak  Point* 


irrs.] 


ADVENTURES. 


255 


On  the  second,  we  continued  our  vo3rage  against 
the  purrent  of  the  Bourbon,  which  was  strong, 
and  interrupted  by  several  rapids.  On  the  third,  we 
entered  Lake  de  Bourbon,  called  by  the  Elnglish, 
after  the  Indians,  Cedar  Lake.  This  name  is  deri- 
ved from  the  cedar-tree,  (thuya,)  which  covers  its 
banks,  and  which  is  not  found  to  the  northward  of 
this  regij[)n. 
-« 

On  the  fourth,  we  reached  the  opposite  extremity 
of  Lake  de  Bourbon.  This  lake  is  eighteen  leagues 
in  length,  and  has  many  deep  bays,  receding  to  the 
northward.  The  land,  by  which  they  are  bojrdered, 
is  in  almost  all  instances  out  of  sight.  .  Several 
islands,  some  of  which  are  large,  are  also  in  this 
lake.  The  shores  are  generally  rocky.  At  the  north 
end,  there  was,  in  the  French  time,  a  fort,  or  tra- 
ding-house, called  Fort  de  Bourbon,  and  built  by 
M.  de  Saint- Pierre,  a  French  officer,-  who«was  the 
first  adventurer  into  these  parts  of  the  country.* 


At  and  adjacent  to  this  fort,  are  several  of  the 
mouths  of  the  river  Sascatchiwaine.  Here  we  took 
several  stui^on,  using  a  seine,  the  meshes  of  which 
were  large  enough  to  admit  the  fish's  head,  and 
which  we  made  fast  to  two  canoes. 

*  In  1766,  Carver  calls  Lake  de  Bourbon  <<  the  most  north* 
*^  ward  of  those  yet  discovered." 


'U-     i. 


IIP' 


tj!* 


\'i\M 


256 


VRAVELS  AND 


CA.D. 


On  the  nzlhy  we  ascended  the  Saseatclu  tvaine, 
the  cuirentof  which  was  here  only  moderately 
strong;  but,  dicbanks  were  marshy  and  overflowed, 
so  that  it  was  with  difficulty  we  found  a  dry  space, 
large  eno^h  to  encamp  upon.  Beaver-lodges  were 
numerous ;  and  the  river  was  every  where  covered 
with  geese,  ducks  and  other  wild  fowl.  No  rising 
ground  was  to  l^  seen ;  and  the  wood,  which  was 
chiefly  willow,  no  where  exceeded  a  man's  wrist  in 
thickness. 

On  the  eighth,  we  resumed  our  vojrage  before 
day-light,  making  aU  speed  to  reach  a  fishing-place, 
since  winter  was*  very  fast  approaching.  Meeting 
two  canoes  of  Indians,  we  engaged  them  to  accom- 
pany us,  as  hunters.  The  number  of  duck« 
and  geese  which  they  killed  was  absolutely  prodi- 
gious. 

'  -*    -    *  ,:  f,*-       ■      -  ,^  S:  '  -     ,'        . 

At  eighty  leagues  above  Fort  de  Bourbon, 
at  the  head  of  a  stream  which  fells  into  the  Sascat- 
chiwaine,  and  into  which  we  had  turned,  we  found 
the  Pasquayah  village.  It  consisted  of  thirty  &mi- 
Jies,  lodged  in  tents  of  a  circular  form,  and  compo- 
sed of  dressed  ox-skins,  stretched  upon  poles 
twelve  feet  in  length,  and  leaning  against  a  stake 
driven  into  the  ground  in  the  centre. 

On  our  arrival,  the  chief,  named  Chatique,  or 
The  Pelican,  came  down  upon  the  beach,  attended 


'^ 


irrs.] 


ADVENTURES. 


257 


by  thirty  followers,  all  armtd  with  the  bows  and  ar- 
rows, and  with  spears.  Chatique  was  a  man  of 
more  than  ^Ax  feet  in  height,  somewhat  corpulent, 
and  of  a  very  doubtful  physiognomy.  He  invited 
us  to  his  tent ;  and  we  observed  that  he  was  (xuti- 
eularly  anxious  to  bestow  his  hospitalities  on  those 
who  were  the  owners  of  the  goods.  We  suspected 
an  evil  design  ;  but,  judged  it  better  to  lend  our- 
selves to  the  treachery,  than  to  discover  fear.  We 
entered  the  lodge  accordingly,  and  soon  perceived 
that  we  were  surrounded  by  armed  men. 

Chatique  presenUy  rose  up,  and  told  us,  that  he 
was  glad  to  see  us  arrive ;  that  the  young  men  of  the 
village,  as  well  as  himself,  had  long  been  in  want  of 
tnany  things  of  which  we  were  possessed  in  abun^ 
dance ;  that  we  must  be  well  aware  of  his  power  to 
prevent  our  going  further ;  that  if  we  passed  now, 
he  could  put  us  all  to  death  on  our  return ;  and 
that  under  these  circumstances,  he  expected  us  to 
be  exceedingly  liberal  in  our  presents :  adding, 
that  to  avoid  misunderstanding,  he  would  inform 

us  of  what  it  was  that  he  must  have.     It  consisted 

ft 

in  three  casks  of  gunpowder ;  four  bags  of  shotand 
ball ;  two  bales  of  tobacco ;  three  kegs  of  rum,  and 
three  guns  ;  toother  with  knives,  flints  and  some 
smaller  articles.  He  went  on  to  say,  that  he  had 
before  now  been  acquainted  with  white  men,  ^nd 

33 


.   jl!;'i"i' 


''ipl 


258 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


knew  tliat  they  promised  more  than  they  perform- 
ed ;  that  with  the  number  of  men  which  he  had, 
he  could  take  the  whole  of  our  property,  without 
our  consent ;  and  that  therefore  his  demands  ought 
to  be  regarded  as  very  reasonable  •:  that  he  was  a 
peaceable  man,  and  one  that  contented  himself 
with  moderate  views,  in  order  to  avoid  quarrels ; — 
finally^  that  he  desired  us  to  signify  our  assent  to 
his  proposition,  before  we  quitted  our  places. 


The  men  in  the  canoes  exceeded  the  Indians  in 
number ;  but,  they  were  unarmed,  and  without  a 
leader  :  our  consultation  was  therefore  short,  and 
we  promised  to  comply.  This  done,  the  pipe  was 
handed  round  as  usual ;  and  the  omission  of  this 
ceremony,  on  our  entrance,  had  sufficiently  marked 
the  intentions  of  Chatique.  The  pipe  dismissed, 
we  obtained  permission  to  depart,  for  the  purpose 
of  assorting  the  presents  ;  and,  these  bestowed,  or 
ti^tr  yielded  up,  we  hastened  away  from  the 
plunderers, 


j 


We  had  supposed  the  afiair  finished ;  but,  be- 
fore  we  had  proceeded  two  miles,  we  saw  a  canoe 
behind  us.  On  this,  we  dropped  astern,  to  give 
the  canoes  that  were  following  us  an  opportunity 
of  joining,  lest,  being  alone,  they  should  be  insult- 
ed. Presently,  however,  Chatique,  in  a  solitary 
canoe,  rushed  into  the  midst  of  our  squadron,  and 


1775.] 


ADVENTURES. 


259 


boarded  one  of  our  canoes,  spear  in  hand,  demand- 
ing a  keg  of  rum,  and  threatening  to  put  to  death 
the  first  that  opposed  him.  We  saw  that  our  only 
alternative  was,  to  kill  this  daring  robber,  or  to  sub- 
mit to  his  exaction.  The  former  part  would  have 
been  attended  with  very  mischievous  consequen- 
ces ;  and  we  therefore  curbed  our  indignation,  and 
chose  the  latter.  On  receiving  the  rum,  he  saluted 
us  with  the  Indian  cry,  and  departed. 

Every  day,  we  were  on  the  water  before  dawn, 
and  paddled  along  till  dark.  The  nights  were 
frosty ;  and  no  provisions,  excepting  a  few  wild 
fowl,  were  to  be  procured.  We  were  in  daily  fear 
that  our  progress  would  be  arrested  by  the  ice.    . 

* 

On  the  twenty-sixth,  we  reached  Cumberland  X 
House,  one  of  the  factories  of  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company,  seated  on  Sturgeon  Lake,  in  about  54^ 
north  latitude,  and  102^  longitude  west  from  Green- 
wich. This  house  had  been  built  the  year  before, 
by  Mr.  Heame,  who  was  now  absent,  on  his  well- 
known  journey  of  discovery.  We  found  it  garri-> 
soned  by  Highlanders,  from  the  Orkney  Islands,  and 
under  the  command  of  a  Mr.  Cockings,  by  whom, 
though  unwelcome  guests,  we  were  treated  with 
much  civility.  The  design,  in  building  this  house, 
was  to  prevent  the  Indians  from  dealing  with  the 
Canadian  merchants,  and  to  induce  them  to  go  to 


I'lit 


i 


n 

tin 

Jl  km 

i' 
1' 

) 

1 V'  H 

rll 

'  ''IhiV 

m 

'  '4m 

1 
1 

'■:*■ 

;,i'|| 

I'i 

1  i  ^1 

1      •   -i 

f 

m 

■rt\ 

iP 

i 

■  "^  K 

iPB 

'!  !''4iH 

;'uj^n. 

:"i  Jji-ffl 

'-f!il 

J  'IjJH 

'*  't'rtiW 

T  WM 

1 1 

#•  II 

jM 

S66 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


Hudson's  Bay*  It  is  distant  one  hundred  leagues 
from  Chatique's  village  ;  and  of  this  space  the  first 
fifty  leagues  comprise  lands  nearly  level  with  the 
water ;  but,  in  the  latter,  the  surface  is  more  lofty, 
rising  a  hundred  feet  above  the  river,  and  increa- 
sing in  height  as  we  advance.  The  soil  is  a  white 
clay,  mixed  with  sand.  The  wood  is  small  and 
scanty. 


IV 


At  Cumberland  House,  the  canoes  separated ; 
M.  Cadotte  going  with  four  to  Fort  des  Prairies ; 
Mr.  Pond,  with  two,  to  Fort  Dauphin  ;  and  others 
proceeding  on  still  different  routes.  Messrs.  Fro- 
bisher  retained  six,  and  myself  four  ;  and  we  re- 
solved on  joining  our  stock,  and  \^intering  toge- 
ther. We  steered  for  the  river  Churchill,  or  Mis- 
sinipi,  to  the  east  of  Beaver  Lake,  or  Lake  aux 
Castors. 


kU 


Sturgeon  Lake,  which  we  now  crossed,  is  twen- 
ty leagues  in  length.  On  the  east  are  high  lands, 
and  on  the  west,  low  islands.  The  river  Maligne 
falls  into  it.  This  we  ascended,  but  not  without 
murh  labour,  from  the  numerous  rapidsy  on  ac- 
count of  which,  the  Canadians,  in  their  vexr^tion, 
have  ^ven  it  the  name  it  bears. 


We  cr'ossed  Beaver  Lake  on  the  first  day  of  No- 
vember ;  and  the  very  next  morning  it  was  frozen 


irT5.] 


.    Happily, 


ADVENTURES. 


261 


over.  Happily,  we  were  now  at  a  place  abounding 
with  fish ;  and  here,  therefore,  we  resolved  on  win- 
tering. 

Our  first  object  was  to  procure  food.  We  had 
only  three  days'  stock  remaining,  and  we  were 
forty.three  persons  in  number.  Our  forty  men 
were  divided  into  three  parties,  of  which  two  were 
detached  to  the  River  aux  Castors,  on  which  the  ice 
was  strong  enough  to  allow  of  setting  the  nets,  in 
the  manner  heretofore  described.  The  third  party 
was  employed  in  building  our  house,  or  fort; 
and,  in  this,  within  ten  days,  we  saw  ourselves 
commodiously  lodged.  Indeed,  we  had  almost 
built  a  village  ;  or,  in  soberer  terms,  we  had 
raised  buildings  round  a  quadrangle,  such  as  really 
assumed,  in  the  wilds  which  encompassed  it,  a 
formidable  appearance.  In  front,  was  the  house 
designed  for  Messrs.  Frobisher  and  myself ;  and 
the  men  had  four  houses,  of  which  one  was  placed 
on  each  side,  and  two  in  the  rear* 


m 


:y,    J 


Our  canoes  were  disposed  of  on  scaffolds  ;  for, 
the  ground  being  frozen,  we  could  not  bury  them, 
as  is  the  usual  practice,  and  which  is  done  to  pro* 
tect  them  from  that  severity  of  cold  which  occa- 
^4ons  the  bark  to  contract  and  split. 


1:' 


262 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


The  houses  being  finished,  we  divided  the  men 
dnew,  making  four  parties,  of  nine  each.  Four 
were  retained  as  wood-cutters  ;  and  each  party 
was  to  provide  for  its  own  subsistence. 

Our  fishing  was  very  successful.  We  took  trout 
of  the  weight  of  from  ten  to  fifty  pounds  ;  white- 
fish  of  five  pounds  ;  and  pike  of  the  usual  size. 
There  were  also  pickerel,  called  poissons  dorSs^ 
(gilt-fish,)  and  sturgeon;  but,  of  the  last,  we  caught 
only  one.  The  Indians,  soon  after  our  arrival, 
killed  two  elks,  otherwise  called  moose-deer** 


.  Lake  aux  Castors,  or  Beaver  Lake,  is  seven 
leagues  in  length,  and  from  three  to  five  in  breadth. 
It  has  several  islands,  of  which  the  largest  does  not 
exceed  a  mile  in  circumference.  The  lands  on 
either  shore  are  mountainous  and  rocky. 


Messrs.  Frobisher  and  myself  were  continually 
employed  in  fishing.  We  made  holes  in  the  ice, 
and  took  trout  with  the  line,  in  twenty  and  thirty 
fathom  water,  using  white-fish,  of  a  pound  weight, 
for  our  bait,  which  we  sunk  to  the  bottom,  or  very 
near  it. 


*  Cervys  alc^s. 


1775.] 


V 


ADVENTURES. 


263 


Li  this  manner,  I  have  at  times  caught  more 
than  twenty  large  trout  a-day ;  but,  my  more  usual 
mode  was  that  of  spearing.  By  one  means  or 
other,  fish  was  plenty  with  us ;  but,  we  suffered 
severely  from  tlie  cold,  in  fishing.  On  the  twenty- 
fifth,  the  frost  was  so  excessive,  that  we  had  nearly 
perished.  Fahrenheit's  thermometer  was  at  32^ 
below  zero  in  the  shade  ;  the  mercury  contract- 
ed one  eighth,  and  fur  four  days  did  not  rise  into 
the  tutie. 

Several  Indians  brought  beaver  and  bear's  meat, 
and  some  skins,  for  sale.  Their  practice  was,  to 
remain  with  us  one  night,  and  leave  us  in  the 
ijioming. 


1"; 


CHAPTER  X. 

fainter  journey  fiom  Beaver  Lake  to  the  Plaim^ 
or  Prairies.  Author  accompanied  to  Cumber^ 
iand  House  by  Mr.  Joseph  Frobisher — reaches 
the  Pasquayah,  or  Sascatchiwaine,  Snow  storm* 
Provisions  exhausted — and  consequent  sufferings. 
Port  des  Prairies.  Plains^^reports  qf  their 
boundaries — inhabitants.  OsinipoilleSy  or  Assini- 
boins.  Author  joins  a  party  of  Osinipoilles^  and 
accompanies  them  to  their  Village, 


THE  Plains,  or,  as  the  French  denominate  them, 
the  Prairies,  or  Meadows,  compose  an  extensive 
tract  of  country,  which  is  watered  by  the  Elk,  or 
Athabasca,  the  Sascatchiwaine,  the  Red  River  and 
others,  and  runs  southward  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 
On  my  first  setting  out  for  the  north-west,  I  promi- 
sed myself  to  visit  this  region,  and  I  now  prepared 
to  accomplish  the  undertaking.  Long  joumies, 
on  the  snow,  are  thought  of  but  as  trifles,  in  this 
part  of  the  world. 


">. 


On  the  first  day  of  Januar}%  1776,  I  left  our  fort 
or\  Beaver  Lake,  attended  by  two  men,  and  provi- 


irra.] 


TRAVELS,  8cQ. 


265 


^ed  with  dried  meat,  frozen  fish,  and  a  small 
quantity  cf  praline,  made  of  roasted  maize,  ren- 
dered palatable  with  sugar,  and  which  I  had 
brought  from  the  Sault  de  Sainte-Marie,  for  this 
express  occasion.  The  kind  and  friendly  disposi- 
tion of  Mr.  Joseph  Frobisher,  induced  him  to  bear 
me  company,  as  far  as  Cumberland  House,  a  jour- 
ney of  a  hundred  and  twenty  miles.  Mr.  Frobisher 
was  attended  by  one  man. 

Our  provisions  were  drawn  by  the  men,  upon 
sledges,  made  of  thin  boards,  a  foot  in  breadth,  and 
curved  upward  in  front,  after  the  Indian  fashion. 
Our  clothing  for  night  and  day  was  nearly  the 
same ;  and  the  cold  was  so  intense,  that  exclusively 
of  warm  woollen  clothes,  we  were  obliged  to  wrap 
ourselves  continuallv  in  beaver  blankets,  or  at  least 
in  ox-skins,  which  the  traders  call  buffalo-robes.  At 
night,  we  made  our  first  encampment  at  the  head  of 
the  Maligne,  where  one  of  our  panics  was  fishing, 
ivith  but  very  indifferent  success. 

On  the  following  evening,  we  encamped  at  the 
mouth  of  the  same  river.  The  snow  was  four  feet 
deep;  and  we  found  it  impossibi  to  keep  our- 
selves warm,  even  with  the  aid  of  a  large  fire. 

On  the  fourth  day,  as  well  of  the  month  as  of 
our  journey,  we  arrived  at  Cumberland  House. 
Mr,  Cockings  received  us  with  much  hospitality, 

34 


ill 


ill.  y 

m 


I*'  i 


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'•■1 'Ml 


"ill 


f'  ilMi 

4  -i 


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! !  "18 


I"'-..  I 


Hi 


m 

.  ■11 


2C6 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


IvH'. 


it 


Ih* 


making  us  partake  of  all  he  had,  which,  however, 
was  but  little.  Himself  and  his  men  subsisted 
wholly  upon  fish,  in  which  sturgeon  bore  the  largest 
proportion  ;  and  this  was  caught  near  the  house. 
The  next  morning,  I  took  leave  of  Mr.  Frobisher, 
who  is  certainly  the  first  man  that  ever  went  the 
same  distance,  in  such  a  «'limate,  and  upon  snow- 
shoes,  to  convoy  a  friend ! 

• 

From  Cumberland  House,  I  pursued  a  westerly 
course,  on  the  ice,  following  the  southern  bank  of 
Sturgeon  Lake,  till  I  crossed  the  neck  of  land 
by  which  alone  it  is  separated  from  the  great  river 
Pasquayah,  or  Sascatchiwaine.  In  the  evening,  I 
encamped  on  the  north  bank  of  this  river,  at  the 
distance  often  leagues  from  Cumberland  House. 

The  depth  of  the  snow,  and  the  intenseness  of 
the  cold,  rendered  my  progress  so  much  slower 
than  I  had  reckoned  upon,  that  I  soon  began  to 
fear  the  want  of  provisions.  The  sun  did  not  rise 
till  half  past  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  it  set 
at  half  past  two  in  the  afternoon :  it  is,  however,  at 
no  time  wholly  dark  in  these  climates  ;  the  north- 
em  lights,  and  the  reflection  of  the  snow,  affording 
always  sufficient  light  for  the  traveller.  Add  to  this, 
that  thCTiver,  the  course  of  which  I  was  ascending, 
was  a  guide,  with  th^  aid  of  which  I  could  not  lose 
my  way.  Every  day's  journey  was  commenced 
at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning. 


im] 


ADVENTURES. 


267 


^(4 


I  *vas  not  far  advanced,  before  the  country  be- 
trayed some  approaches  to  the  characteristic  na- 
kedness of  the  Plains.  The  wood  dwindled  away, 
both  in  size  and  quantity,  so  that  it  was  with 
difficulty  we  could  collect  sufficient  for  ma- 
king a  fire,  and  without  fire  we  could  not  drink; 
for  melted  snow  was  our  only  resource,  the  ice  on 
the  river  being  too  thick  to  be  penetrated  by  the 
axe. 


On  the  evening  of  the  sixth,  the  weather  conti- 
nuing severely  cold,  I  made  my  two  men  sleep  on 
the  same  skin  with  myself,  one  on  each  side  ;  and 
though  this  arrangement  was  particularly  beneficial 
to  myself,  it  increased  the  comfort  of  all.  At 
the  usual  hour  in  the  morning,  we  attempted  to 
rise ;  but  found  that  a  foot  of  snow  had  fallen  upon 
our  bed,  as  well  as  extinguished  and  covered  our 
fire.  In  this  situation  we  remained  till  day-break, 
when,  with  much  exertion,  we  collected  fresh  fuel. 
Proceeding  on  our  journey,  we  found  that  the  use 
of  our  sledge ^<  had  become  impracticable,  through 
the  quantity  of  newly  fallen  snow,  and  were  now 
constrained  to  carry  our  provisions  on  our  backs. 
Unfortunately,  they  were  a  diminished  burden ! 


■•*M 


For  the  two  days  succeeding,  the  depth  of  the 
snow,  and  the  violence  of  the  winds,  greatly  retard- 
cd  our  journey  ;  but,  from  the  ninth  to  the  twelfth, 
the. elements  were  less  hostile,  and  we  travelled 


b^m 


268 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


m 


rapidly.  No  trace  of  any  thing  human  presented 
itself  on  our  road,  except  tl)at  we  saw  the  old 
wintering.ground  of  Mr.  Finlay,  who  had  left 
it  some  years  before,  and  was  now  stationed  at 
Fort  des  Prairies.  This  fort  was  the  stage  we  had 
to  make,  before  we  could  enter  the  Prairies,  or 
Plains ;  arid  on  examining  our  provisions,  we  found 
only  sufficient  for  iive  days,  while,  even  at  the 
swiftest  rate  we  had  travelled,  a  journey  of  twelve 
days  was  before  us.  My  men  began  to  fear 
being  starved,  as  seeing  no  prospect  of  relief ;  but^ 
I  endeavoured  to  maintain  their  courage,  by  repre. 
senting  that  I  should  certainly  kill  red-deer  and 
elk,  of  which  the  tracks  were  visible  along  the 
banks  of  the  river,  and  on  the  sides  of  the  hills. 
What  I  hoped  for,  in  this  respect,  it  was  not  easy 
to  accomplish ;  for  the  animals  kept  within  the 
shelter  of  the  woods,  and  the  snow  was  too  deep  to 
kt  me  seek  them  there. 


On  the  fifteenth,  our  situation  was  rendered  still 
more  alarming,  by  the  commencement  of  a  fresh 
&1I  of  snow,  which  added  nearly  two  feet  to  the 
depth  of  that  which  was  on  the  ground  before.  At 
the  same  time,  we  were  scarcely  able  to  collect 
enough  wood  for  making  a  fire  to  melt  the  snow. 
The  only  trees  around  us  were  starveling  wil- 
lows ;  and  the  hills,  which  discovered  them- 
selves at  a  small  distance,  were  bare  of  every  ve- 
getable production,  such  as  could  rear  itself  abov^ 


i7r«.] 


ADVENTURES. 


5269 


the  snow.  Their  appearance  was  rather  that  of 
lofty  snow-banks,  than  of  hills.  We  were  now  on 
the  borders  of  the  Plains. 

On  the  twentieth,  the  last  remains  of  our  provi- 
sions were  expended  ;  but,  I  had  taken  the  pre* 
caution  to  conceal  a  cake  of  chocolate,  in  resen^e 
for  an  occasion  like  that  which  was  now  arri- 
ved. I'oward  evening,  my  men,  after  walking  the 
wiiole  day,  began  to  lose  their  strength ;  but,  we 
nevertheless  kept  on  our  feet  till  it  was  late  ;  and, 
when  we  encamped,  I  informed  them  of  the  trea- 
sure which  was  still  in  store.  1  desired  them  to  fill 
the  kettle  with  snow,  and  argued  with  them  the 
while,  that  the  chocolate  would  keep  us  alive,  for 
five  days  at  least ;  an  interval  in  which  we  should 
surely  meet  with  some  Indian  at  the  chase.  Their 
spirits  revived  at  the  sug;gestion  ;  and,  the  ketde 
being  filled  with  two  gallons  of  water,  I  put  into  it 
one  square  of  the  chocolate.  The  quantity  jvas 
scarcely  sufficient  to  alter  the  colour  of  the  water ; 
but,  each  of  us  drank  half  a  gallon  of  the  warm  li- 
quor, by  which  we  were  much  refreshed,  and  in  its 
enjoyment  felt  no  more  of  the  fatigues  of  the  day.  In 
the  momhig,  we  allowed  ourselves  a  similar  repast, 
after  finishing  which,  we  marched  vigorously  for 
six  hours.  But,  now,  the  spirits  of  my  companions 
again  deserted  them,  and  they  declared,  that  they 
neither  wouKl,  nor  could,  proceed  any  further.  For 
myself,  they  advised  mc  to  leave  them,  and  ac- 


I, 

(I 


lis 


,1'  ,     ill 


':■    :Hi!;l 


270 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


complish  the  journey  as  I  could  ;  but,  for  them* 
selves,  they  said,  that  they  must  die  soon,  and  might 
as  well  die  where  they  were,  as  any  where  else. 

While  things  were  in  this  melancholy  posture, 
I  filled  the  kettle,  and  boiled  another  square  of 
chocolate.  When  prepared,  I  prevailed  upon  my 
desponding  companions  to  return  to  their  warm 
beverage.  On  taking  it,  they  recovered  incon- 
ceivably ;  and,  after  smoking  a  pipe,  consented  to 
go  fonvard.  While  their  stomachs  were  comfort- 
ed by  the  warm  water,  they  walked  well ;  but,  as 
evening  approached,  fatigue  overcame  them,  and 
they  relapsed  into  their  former  condition ;  and,  the 
chocolate  being  now  almost  entirely  consumed,  I 
began  to  fear  that  I  must  really  abandon  them  : 
for  I  was  able  to  endure  more  hardship  than  they ; 
and,  had  it  not  been  for  keeping  company  with 
them,  I  could  have  advanced,  double  the  distance, 
within  the  time  which  had  beep  spent.  To  my 
great  joy,  however,  the  usual  quantity  of  warm  wa- 
ter revived  them. 


For  breakfast,  the  next  morning,  I  put  the  last 
square  of  chocolate  into  the  k^nle ;  and  our  meal 
finished,  we  begim  our  march,  in  but  very  indi£^- 
ent  spirits.  We  were  surrounded  by  large  herds 
of  wolves,  which  sometimes  came  close  upon  us, 
and  who  knew,  as  we  were  prone  to  think,  the  ex- 
tremity in  which  we  were,  and  marked  us  for  their 


1776.] 


ADVENTURES. 


271 


prey ;  but,  I  carried  a  gun,  and  this  was  our  protec- 
tion. I  fired  several  times,  but  unfortunately  missed 
at  each  ;  for  a  morsel  of  wolf's  flesh  would  have 
afforded  us  a  banquet. 

Our  misery,  nevertheless,  was  still  nearer 
its  end  than  we  imagined  ;  and  the  event  was 
such  as  to  give  one  of  the  innumerable  proofs,  that 
despair  is  not  made  for  man.  Before  sunset,  we 
discovered,  on  the  ice,  some  remains  of  the  bones 
of  an  elk,  left  there  by  the  wolves.  Having  in- 
stantly gathered  them,  we  encamped;  and,  filling 
our  kettle,  prepared  ourselves  a  meal  of  strong  and 
excellent  soup.  The  greater  part  of  the  night  was 
passed  in  boiling  and  regaling  on  our  booty  ;  and 
early  in  the  morning  we  felt  ourselves  strong 
enough  to  proceed. 

This  day,  the  twenty-fifth,  we  found  the  borders 
of  the  Plains  reaching  to  the  very  banks  of  the 
river,  which  were  two  hundred  feet  above  the  level 
of  the  ice.  Water-marks  presented  themselves  at 
twenty  feet  above  the  actual  level. 

Want  had  lost  his  dominion  over  us.  At  noon^ 
we  saw  the  horns  of  a  red-deer,  standing  in  the 
snow,  on  the  river.  On  examination,  we  found  that 
the  whole  carcass  was  with  them,  the  animal  ha- 
ving broke  through«the  ice  in  the  beginning  of  the 
winter,  in  attempting  to  cross  the  river,  too  early  in 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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Coiporalion 


23  WEST  MAIN  STMET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  145M 

(716)872-4S03 


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272 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A,D. 


the  season ;  while  his  horns,  fastening  themselves 
in  the  ice,  had  prevented  him  from  sinking.  By 
cutting  away  the  ice,  we  were  enabled  to  lay  bare  a 
part  of  the  back  and  shoulders,  and  thus  procure  2^ 
stock  of  food,  amply  sufficient  for  the  rest  of 
our  journey.  We  accordingly  encamped,  and  em- 
ployed our  kettle  to  good  purpose ;  forgot  all  our 
misfortunes ;  and  prepared  to  walk  with  cheerful* 
ness  the  twenty  leagues,  which,  as  we  reckoned, 
still  lay  between  ourselves  and  Fort  des  Prairies. 

Though  the  deer  must  have  been  in  this  situa- 
tion ever  since  the  month  of  November,  yet  its 
flesh  was  perfectly  good.  Its  horns  alone  were  five 
foot  high,  or  more ;  and  it  will  therefore  not  appear 
extraordinary,  that  they  should  be  seen  above  the 
snow^ 

On  the  twenty-seventh,  in  the  morning,  we  dis- 
covered the  print  of  snow-shoes,  demonstrating 
that  several  persons  had  passed  that  way  the  day 
before.  These  were  the  first  marks  of  other  hifman 
feet  than  our  own,  which  we  had  seen  since  our 
leaving  Cumberland  House  ;  and  it  was  much  to 
feel,  that  we  had  fellow-creatures  in  the  wide  waste 
surrounding  us  !  In  the  evening,  we  reached  the 
fort. 


\J^       At  Fort  des  Prairies,  I  remained  several  days, 
hospitably  entertain^  by  my  friends,  who  covered 


1776-3 


ADVENTURES. 


273 


their  table  with  the  tongues  and  marrow  of  wild 
bulls.  The  quantity  of  provisions,  which  I  found 
collected  here,  exceeded  every  thing  of  which  I 
had  previously  formed  a  notion.  In  one  heap,  I  saw 
fifty  ton  of  beef,  so  fat  that  the  men  could  scarcely 
find  a  sufficiency  of  lean. 

I  had  come  to  see  the  Plains  ;  and  I  had  yet  a 
serious  journey  to  perform,  in  order  to  gratify  my 
curiosity.  Their  southern  boundary  I  iiave  already 
named ;  and  I  understood  that  they  stretched  north- 
ward, to  the  sixtieth  degree  uf  north  latitude,  and 
westward,  to  the  feet  of  the  Rocky  Moi\ntains,  or 
Northern  Andes,  of  which  the  great  chain  pursues 
a  north-westerly  direction.  The  mountain^^,  seen  in 
high  latitudes,  were  regarded  as  parts  of  this  chain, 
and  said  to  be  iiihii^bited  by  numerous  bands  of  In- 
dians. The  Plains  cross  the  river .  Pasquayah, 
Kejeeche-won,  Sascatchiwaine  or  Shascatchiwan,  a 
little  above  I  ort  des  Prairies. 

The  Indians,  who  inhabit  them  immediately  to 
the  southward,  are  called  Osinipoilles,  or  Assini- 
boins.  At  the  fort,  I  met  with  a  woman  who  was 
a  slave  among  the  Osinipoilles,  taken  far  to  the 
westward  of  the  mountains,  in  a  country  which  the 
latter  incessantly  ravage.  She  informed  me,  that 
the  men  of  the  country  never  suffer  themselves 
to  be  taken,  but  always  die  in  the  field,  ra- 
ther than  fall  into  captivity.    The  women  and 

35 


i-i" 


i.n 


274 


TRAVELS,  &c. 


[1776. 


Mm 


children  are  made  slaves,  but  are  not  put  to  death, 
nor  tormented.*  Her  nation  lived  on  a  great  river, 
running  to  the  south-west,  and  cultivated  beans, 
squashes,  maize  and  tobacco.  The  lands  were 
generally  mountainous,  and  covered  with  pine  and 
fir.  She  had  heard  of  men  who  wear  their  beards. 
She  had  been  taken  in  one  of  the  incursions  of  the 
Osinipoilles,  Of  the  men  who  were  in  the  village, 
,  the  greater  part  were  killed  ;  but,  a  few  escaped, 
by  swimming  across  the  river.     *  . 


•^  The  woman  belonged  to  a  numerous  band  of 
Osinipoilles,  which  was  at  the  fort,  selling  its 
meat  and  skins.  I  resolved  on  travelling  with 
these  people,  to  their  village  ;  and  accordingly  set 
out  on  the  fifth  of  February,  accompanied  by 
Messrs.  Patterson  and  Holmes,  and  attended  by  my 
two  Canadians.  .  . 


*  The  Five  Nations,  and  others,  are  known  to  have  treated 
their  prisoners  with  great  cruelty  ;  but,  there  is  too  niuch 
reason  to  believe,  that  the  exercise  of  this  cruelty  has  been 
often  encouraged,  and  its  malignity  often  iixreased)  by  £u-^ 
ropean  instigators  and  assistants* 


^U 


ft- 


5;.-  *:':a«Jii 


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".*.> 


m 


■:\j-1     .'\ -..       .>,  ,.  J  ;s.,A(%J 


'■:.*  i.c  i-. ■■'■'•<!> '• 


^h^- 


eHAPTER  XL 


Journey  on  the  Plains,  from  Fort  des  Prairies  to  a 
Fillage  of  the  Osinipoilles.  Table-land,  Moose- 
river.  JRed-deer.  Winter  appearance  of  the 
Plains,  Danger  from  drifted  Snow,  Coppices, 
or  Islands,  Wild  Oxen,^  Messengers  from  Great 
Chief,  Snorw-stom. — and  Herd  of  Oxen,  To- 
bacco highly  esteemed  among  the  Indians,  En- 
camp near  the  Fillage.  Entry,  Guard  of  Ho- 
nour.    Tent  assigned  to  the  Strangers.  f 


■.'K: 


WE  departed  at  an  early  hour,  and  after  a  march 
of  about  two  miles,  ascended  the  table-land,  which 
lies  above  the  river,  and  of  which  the  level  is  two 
hundred  feet  higher  than  that  of  the  land  on  which 
the  fort  is  built.  From  the  low  ground  upward, 
the  soil  is  covered  with  poplar,  of  a  large  growth ; 
but,  the  summit  of  the  ridge  is  no  sooner  gained, 
than  the  wood  is  found  to  be  smaller,  and  so  thinly 
scattered,  that  a  wheel-carriage  might  pass,  in  any 
direction.  At  noon,  we  crossed  a  small  river,  call- 
ed Moose-river,  flowing-  at  the  feet  of  very  lofty 
banks.  Moose-river  is  said  to  fall  into  Lake  Dau- 
phin. 


iiiii' 


276 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


\-Al  « 


Beyond  this  stream,  the  wood  grows  still  more 
scanty,  and  the  land  more  and  more  level.  Our 
course  was  southerly.  The  snow  lay  four  feet 
deep.  The  Indians  travelled  swiftly ;  and,  in  keep- 
ing  pace  with  them,  my  companions  and  myself 
had  too  much  exercise,  to  suffer  from  the  coldness 
of  the  atmosphere  ;  but,  our  snow-shoes  being  of  a 
broader  make  than  those  of  the  Indians,  we  had 
much  fatigue  in  following  their  track.  The  wo- 
men led,  and  we  marched  till  sunset,  when  we 
reached  a  small  coppice  of  wood,  under  the  protec- 
tion of  which  we  encamped.  The  baggage  of  the 
Indians  was  drawn  by  dogs,  who  kept  pace  with 
the  women,  and  appeared  to  be  under  their  com- 
mand. As  soon  as  we  halted,  the  women  set  up  the 
tents,  which  were  constructed,  and  covered,  like 
those  of  the  Cristinaux. 


^^ 


■;]  The  tent,  in  which  I  slept,  contained  fourteen 
persons,  each  of  whom  lay  with  his  feet  to  the 
fire,  which  was  in  the  middle ;  but,  the  night 
was  so  cold,  that  even  this  precaution,  with  the 
assistance  of  our  buffalo-robes,  was  insufHcient  to 
keep  us  warm.  Our  supper  was  made  on  the 
tongues  of  the  wild  ox,  or  buffalo,  boiled  in  my 
kettle,  which  was  the  only  one  in  the  camp.  > 


At  break  of  day,  or  rather  before  that  time,  we 
left  our  encampment ;  the  women  still  preceding 
us.  On  our  march,  we  saw  but  little  wood,  and  that 


1776.] 


ADVENTURES. 


277 


only  here  and  there,  and  at  great  distances.  We 
crossed  two  rivulets,  stealing  alpng  tlie  bottom 
of  very  deep  channels,  which,  no  doubt,  are  better 
filled  in  the  season  of  the  melting  of  the  snow.  The 
banks  here,  as  on  the  Pasquayah,  or  Sascatchi- 
waine,  are  composed  of  a  whitish  clay,  mingled 
with  sand.  -         . 

On  the  sixth  of  February,  we  had  a  fine  clear 
^y  ;  but,  the  air  was  exceedingly  cold  and  bleak, 
no  shelter  from  woods  being  afibrded  us,  on  either 
side.  There  was  but  little  wind,  and  yet,  at  times, 
enough  to  cause  a  slight  drift  of  snow.  In  the 
evening,  we  encamped  in  a  small  wood,  of  .which 
the  largest  trees  did  not  exceed  a  man's  wrist  in 
thickness.  On  the  seventh,  we  left  our  encamp- 
ment at  an  early  hour.  Tracks  of  large  herds  of 
animals  presented  themselves,  which  the  Indians 
said  were  those  of  red-deer.  Our  course  was 
south-west,  and  the  weather  very  cold.  The  coun- 
try was  one  uninterrupted  plain,  in  many  parts  of 
which  no  wood,  nor  even  the  smallest  shrub,  was 
to  be  seen :  a  continued  level,  without  a  single 
eminence  ;  a  frozen  sea,  of  which  the  little  coppi- 
ces were  the  islands.  That,  behind  which  we  had 
encamped  the  night  before,  soon  sunk  in  the  hori- 
zon ;  and  die  eye  had  nothing  left,  save  only  the 
sky  and  snow.  The  latter  was  still  four  feet  in 
depth. 


'ti.h 


278 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


At  noon,  we  discovered,  and  presently  passed  by, 
a  diminutive  wood,  or  island.  At  four  in  the  after- 
noon, another  was  in  sight.  When  I  could  see 
none,  I  was  alive  to  the  danger  to  be  feared  from  a 
storm  of  wind,  which  would  have  driven  the  snow 
upon  us.  The  Indians  related,  that  whole  families 
often  perish  in  this  manner.  .i;T  ;  u«  v 


It  was  dark  before  we  reached  the  wood.  A  fire, 
of  which  we  had  much  need,  was.  soon  kindled  by 
the  women.  Axes  were  useless  here;  for  the 
largest  tree  yielded  easily  to  the  hand.  It  was  not 
only  small,  but  in  a  state  of  decay,  and  easily 
extracted  from  the  loose  soil  in  which  it  grew. 
We  supped  on  wild  beef  and  snow-water.  In  the 
night,  the  wind  changed  to  the  southward,  and  the 
weather  became  milder.  I  was  still  asleep,  when 
the  women  began  their  noisy  preparations  for  our 
march.  The  striking  of  the  tents,  the  tongues  of 
the  women,  and  the  cries  of  the  dogs,  were  all 
heard  at  once.  At  the  first  dawn  of  dayi  'we  re- 
commenced our  journey.  Nothing  was  visible  but 
the  snow  and  sky ;  and  the  snow  was  drifted  into 
ridges,  resembling  waves.  ?*  isoi  [- 

Soon  after  sunrise,  we  descried  a  herd  of  oxen, 
extending  a  mile  and  a  half  in  length,  and  too  nu- 
merous to  be  counted.  They  travelled,  not  one 
after  another,  as,  in  the  snow,  other  animals  usually 
do,  but,  in  a  broad  phalanx,  slowly,  and  some- 


1T76.] 


ADVENTURES. 


279 


times  stopping  to  feed.  We  did  not  disturb  them  ; 
because  to  have  attacked  them  would  have  occa- 
sioned much  delay  to  our  progress  ;  and  because 
the  dogs  were  already  sufficiently  burdened,  not 
to  need  the  addition  of  the  spoil.  „   '  _ 

.  ,  At  two  o'clock,  we  reached  a  small  lake,  sur- 
rounded with  wood,  and  where  the  trees  were  of  a 
size  somewhat  larger  than  those  behind.  There 
were  birch-trees  among  the  rest.  I  observed,  that 
wherever  there  was  water,  there  was  wood.  All  the 
snow  upon  the  lake  was  trodden  down  by  the  feet  of 
wild  oxen.  When  this  was  the  case  on  the  land, 
an  abundance  of  coarse  grass  discovered  itself  be- 
neath. We  were  unable  to  penetrate  to  the  water 
in  the  lake,  though  we  cut  a  hole  in  the  ice,  to  the 
depth  of  three  feet.  Where  we  cleared  the  ground 
for  our  encampments,  no  stones  were  to  be  seen. 

This  evening,  we  had  scarcely  encamped,  when 
there  arrived  two  Osinipoilles,  sent  by  the  0ceBt 
chief  of  the  nation,  whose  name  was  the  Great  Road, 
to  meet  the  troop.  The  chief  had  been  induced  to 
send  them  through  his  anxiety,  occasioned  by 
their  longer  absence  than  had  been  expected.  The 
messengers  expressed  themselves  much  pleased  at 
finding  strangers  with  their  friends,  and  told  us, 
that  we  were  within  one  day's  march  of  their  vil- 
lage, and  that  the  great  chief  would  be  highly  gra- 
li&ed,  in  learning  the  long  journey  \yhich  we  had 


m- 


280 


TRAVELS  AND 


tA.T>. 


performed  to  visit  him.  They  added,  that  in  conse- 
quence of  finding  us,  they  must  themselves  return 
immediately,  to  apprise  him  of  our  coming,  and 
enable  him  to  prepare  for  our  reception. 

Fortunately,  they  had  not  been  able  to  take  any 
refreshment,  before  a  storm  of  wind  and  snow  com- 
menced, which  prevented  their  departure,  and  in 
which  they  must  have  been  lost,  had  it  happened 
later.  The  storm  continued  all  the  night,  and  part 
of  the  next  day.  Clouds  of  snow,  raised  by  the 
wind,  fell  on  the  encampment,  and  almost  buried  it. 
I  had  no  resource  but  in  my  buffalo-robe. 


mJ- 


Pi 


In  the  morning,  we  were  alarmed  by  the  ap- 
proach of  a  herd  of  oxen,  who  came  from  the 
open  ground,  to  shelter  themselves  in  the  wood. 
Their  numbers  were  so  great,  that  we  dreaded  lest 
they  should  fairly  trample  down  the  camp ;  nor 
could  it  have  happened  otherwise,  but  for  the  dogSy 
almost  as  numerous  as  they,  who  were  able  to 
keep  them  in  check.  The  Indians  killed  several, 
when  close  upon  their  tents  ;  but,  ndther  the  fire 
of  the  Indians,  nor  the  noise  of  the  dogs,  could 
soon  drive  them  away.  Whatever  were  the  ter- 
rors  which  filled  the  wood,  they  had  no  other 
escape  from  the  terrors  of  the  storm. 


In  the  night  of  the  tenth,  the  wind  ML     The 
interval  had  been  passed  ui  feasdng  on  the  traigues 


->4,'  -.'1, 


1776.] 


ADVENTURES. 


281 


of  the  oxen.  On  the  morning  of  the  eleventh,  the 
messengers  left  us  before  day-light.  We  had 
already  charged  them  with  a  present  for  the  chief, 
consisting  in  tobacco  and  vermilion.  Of  these  ar- 
ticles, the  former  exceeds  all  others  in  estimation : 
for  the  Indians  are  universally  great  smokers,  men, 
women  and  children  ;  and  no  affair  can  be  trans- 
acted, civil  or  religious,  without  the  pipe. 


Our  march  was  performed  at  a  quick  pace,  in 
the  track  of  the  messengers.  All  the  fore  part  of 
the  day  escaped,  without  discovering  to  us  a  single 
Wood,  or  even  a  single  twig,  with  the  exception  of 
averysmaU  island,  lying  on  our  ght ;  but,  at 
four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  we  reached  a  little 
scrub,  or  bushy  tract,  on  which  we  encamped.  We 
were  at  no  great  distance  from  the  village  ;  but, 
tlie  Indians,  as  is  their  custom,  delayed  their  entry 
till  the  morning.  .       . 


I  M^ 


•■m 


On  the  twelfth,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon, 
we  were  in  sight  of  a  wood,  or  island,  as  the  term 
-  not  unnaturally  is,  as  well  with  the  Indians  as 
others  :  it  appeared  to  be  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
long.  Shortly  after,  we  observed  smoke  rising 
from  it,  and  were  informed  that  it  was  the  smoke 
of  the  village.  The  morning  was  clear,  and  the 
sun  shining. 

36 


:iii 


282 


TRAVELS,  &c. 


[1776. 


At  eleven  o^clock,  two  fresh  messengers  came 
from  tfie  village,  by  whom  the  strangers  were  for- 
mally welcomed,  on  the  part  of  the  chief.  They 
told  us,  that  they  were  directed  to  conduct  us  and 
our  servants  to  a  lodge,  which  had  been  prepared 
for  our  reception. 


ill 
14  ip 


At  the  entrance  of  the  wood,  we  were  met  by  a 
large  band  of  Indians,  having  the  appearance  of  a 
guard  ;  each  man  being  -armed  with  his  bow  and 
spear,  and  having  his  quiver  filled  with  arrows. 
In  this,  as  in  much  that  followed,  there  was  more 
of  order  and  discipline,  than  in  any  thing  which  I 
had  before  witnessed  among  Indians.  The  pow- 
er of  these  g^uards  appeared  to  be  great ;  for  they 
treated  very  roughly  some  of  the  people,  who, 
in  their  opinion,  approached  us  too  closely.  Form- 
ing themselves  in  regular  file,  on  either  side  of 
us,  they  escorted  us  to  the  lodge,  or  tent,  which 
was  assigned  us.  It  was  of  a  circular  form,  co- 
vered with  leather,  and  not  less  than  twenty  feet 
in  diameter.  On  the  ground  within,  ox-skins 
were  spread,  for  beds  and  seats. 


,'•■*.'.  rriV 


c 


>,•. 


m 


I 


CHAPTER  XII. 


.'•►f. 


Hospitality  and  Ceremony  of  the  Osinipoilles,  Feast 
given  by  the  Great  Chief,  The  Pipe^  or  Calumetf 
Weeping,     Remarkahle  Superstition,      Second 
Feast,  Orderly  demeanour  of  the  Guard,  Camp, 
or  Village,  always  on  the  alert.      Number  of 

t*i  Tents  and  Families,  Curiosity  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants, Dogs,  Horses,  Visit  of  the  Great  Chief — 
Retinue — Speech — and  Present*     Great  Chief 

'  designs  to  visit  the  Fort,  Third  Feast,  Daily 
Feasts,  Domestic  Order,  Military  Police, 
Hunting  the  Wild  0^  proposed. 


OfJE  half  of  the  tent  was  appropriated  to  our 
use.  Several  women  waited  upon  us,  to  make  a 
fire,  and  bring  water,  which  latter  they  fetched 
from  a  neighbouring  tent.  Shortly  after  our  arri- 
val, these  women  brought  us  water,  unasked  for, 
saying  that  it  was  for  washing.  The  refreshment 
was  exceedingly  acceptable;  for,  on  our  march,  we 
Tiad  become  so  dirty,  that  our  complexions  were 
not  very  distinguishable  from  those  of  the  Indians 
themselves. 


ii;^li 


284 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


The  same  women  presently  borrowf^d  our  ket- 
tle, tf^lNng  us,  that  they  wanted  to  boil  something 
for  us  to  eut.  Soon  after,  we  heard  the  voice  of  a 
man,  passing  through  the  village,  and  making  a 
speech  as  he  went.  Our  interpreter  informed  us, 
that  his  s]x:ech  contained  an  invitation  to  a  feast, 
accompanied  by  a  prochmiation,  in.  wliich  the  |x:o- 
ple  were  required  to  behave  with  decorum  toward 
the  strangers,  and  apprised,  that  the  soldiers  had 
orders  to  punish  those  who  should  do  otlierwisc. 


While  we  were  procuring  this  explanation,  an 
Indian,  who  ap|)eared  to  be  a  chief,  came  into 
our  tent,  and  inyited  us  to  the  feast  ;  adding, 
that  he  would  himself  show  us  the  way.  We  foU 
lowed  him  accordingly,  and  he  can-ied  us  to  the 
tent  of  the  great  chief,  which  we  found  neither 
more  onmmented,  nor  better  furnished,  than  the 
rest.  -'^^:  .:,:^ 


At  our  entmnce,  the  chief  arose  from  his  seat, 
saluted  us  in  the  Indian  manner,  by  shaking  hands, 
and  addressed  us  in  a  few  words,  in  which  he  of- 
fered his  thanks  for  the  confidence  which  we  had 
reposed  in  him,  in  trusting  ourselves  so  far  from 
our  own  country.  After  wc  were  seated,  which 
was  on  bear-skins,  spread  on  the  ground,  the  pipe, 
as  usual,  was  introduced,  and  presented  in  succes- 
sion to  each  person  present.   Each  took  his  whiffy 


ur«.] 


ADVENTURES. 


285 


and  then  let  it  pass  to  his  neighbour.  The  stem, 
which  was  four  feet  in  length,  vvus  held  by  an  offi. 
cer,  attendant  on  the  chief.  The  bowl  was  of  red 
marble,  or  pipe -stone. 

When  the  pipe  had  fi;one  its  round,  the  chief, 
without  rising  from  his  seat,  delivered  a  spctch  of 
some  length,  but  of  which  the  general  puqK)rt  was 
of  the  nature  already  described,  in  speaking  of  the 
IndituM  of  the  Lake  of  the  Woods.  ^•^  'J  "he  speech 
cnde*  several  of  the  Indians  began  to  weep, 
and  they  were  soon  joined  by  the  whole  party. 
Had  I  not  previously  been  witness  to  a  weeping-' 
scene  of  this  description,  I  should  certainly  have 
been  apprehensive  of  some  disastrous  catflstiv  phe  ; 
but,  as  it  was,  I  listened  to  it  with  tranquillity.  It 
lasted  for  about  ten  minutes,  after  which  all  tears 
were  dried  away,  and  the  honours  of  the  feast  were 
performed  by  the  attending  chiefs.  This  consisted 
in  giving  to  every  guest  a  dish,  containing'a  boiled 
wild  ox's  tongue — for  preparing  which,  my  kettle 
had  been  borrowed.  The  repast  fmished,  the 
great  chief  dismissed  us,  by  shaking  hands ;  and 
we  returned  to  our  tent. 

( 

Having  inquired  among  these  people,  why  they 
always  weep  at  their  feasts,  and  sometimes  at  their 


.   '! 


; 


mm 
mm 


*  See  Part  II.  Clmpter  8. 


286 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


councils,  I  was  answered,  that  their  tears  flowed  to 
the  memory  of  those  deceased  relations,  who  form- 
erly assisted  both  at  the  one  and  the  other  ; — that 
their  absence,  on  these  occasions,  necessarily 
brought  them  fresh  into  their  minds,  and  at  the 
same  time  led  them  to  reflect  on  their  own  brief 
and  uncertain  continuance.^ 


The  chief  to  whose  kindly  reception  we  were  so 
much  indebted,  was  about  five  feet  ten  inch^  high, 
and  of  a  complexion  rather  darker  than  that  of  the 
Indians  in  general.  His  appearance  was  greatly 
injured  by  the  condition  of  Jiis  head  of  hair,  and 
this  was  the  result  of  an  extraordinary  supersti? 
tion. 


m 


The  Indians  universally  fix  upon  a  particular 
object,  as  sacred  to  themselves  ;  as  the  giver  of 
their  prosperity,  and  as  their  preserver  from  evil. 
The  choice  is  determined  either  by  a  dream,  or  by 
some  strong  predilection  of  fancy  ;  and  usually 
falls  upon  an  animal,  or  part  of  an  animal,  or  some- 
thing else  which  is  to  be  met  with,  by  land,  or  by 
water :  but,  the  Great  Road  had  made  choice  of 
his  hair— placing,  like  Sampson,  all  his  safety 
in  this   portion  of  his  proper  substance  !     His 


*The  Oslnipoilies  arc  the  laaati  of  the  older  travellers, 
aiid  have  sometimes  been  called  the  Wee/iers. 


■J 


irre.] 


ADVENTURES. 


287 


hair  was  the  fountain  of  all  his  happiness ;  it  was 
his  strength  and  his  weapon,  his  spear  and  his 
shield.  It  preserved  him  in  battle,  directed  him  in 
the  chase,  watched  over  him  in  the  march,  and 
gave  length  of  days  to  his  wives  and  children. 
Hair,  of  a  quality  like  this,  was  not  to  be  pro- 
faned by  the  touch  of  human  hands.  I  was  as- 
sured, that  it  had  never  been  cut,  nor  combed, 
from  his  childhood  upward  ;  and,  that  when  any 
part  of  it  fell  from  his  head,  he  treasured  up  that 
part  with  care  :  meanwhile,  it  did  not  escape  all 
care,  even  while  growing  on  the  head ;  but,  was  in 
the  special  charge  of  a  spirit,  who  dressed  it  while 
the  owner  slept.  All  this  might  be;  but,  the  spirit's 
style  of  hair-dressing  was  at  least  peculiar ;  the 
hair  being  suffered  to  remain  very  much  as  if  it 
received  no  dressing  at  all,  and  matted  into  ropes, 
which  spread  themselves  in  all  directions. 

The  same  evening,  wc'were  invited  to  a  second 
feast.  Every  thing  was  nearly  as  before,  except 
that  in  the  morning  all  the  guests  were  men,  and 
now  half  were  women.  All  the  women  were  seat- 
ed on  one  side  of  the  floor  of  the  tent,  and  all  the 
men  on  the  other,  with  a  fire  placed  between  them. 
The  fire  rendering  the  tent  warm,  the  men,  one 
after  another,  dropped  the  skins  which  were  their 
garments,  and  left  themselves  entirely  naked.  The 
appearance  of  one  of  them  in  particular,  liaving  led 


i:'!i 


'! 


K 1  :  '.m 


¥■ 


3  !! 
1 J  . 


S.  -1 


ft 

Si 


288  /    TRAVELS  AND  fA.  D. 

us,  who  were  strangers,  into  an  involuntary  and  ilU 
stifled  laugh,  the  men  calmly  asked  us  the  occasion 
of  bur  mirth  ;  but,  one  of  the  women  pointing  to 
the  cause,  the  individual  restored  the  covering  of 
his  robe.  ^     * 


.fi-ii^.vi     r 


The  women  are  themsetres  perfectly  modest, 
both  in  dress  and  demeanour ;  and  those,  who  were 
now  present,  maintained  the  first  rank  in  the  village; 
but,  custom  had  rendered  the  scene  inoifensive  to 
their  eyes.  ,      .. 


't'p 


Our  repast  concluded,  we  departed,  taking  with 
us  our  dishes,  in  which  the  greater  part  of  the  ox- 
tongues, which  had  been  laid  upon  them,  remained 
unconsumed. 

All  night,  in  our  tent,  we  had  a  guard  of  six  sol- 
diers ;  and,  when  I  awoke,  as  several  times  I  did, 
I  always  found  them  smoking  their  pipes  in  si- 
lence. ^ 

i  We  rose  at  day-break,  according  to  the  custom 
of  the  Indians,  who  say,  that  they  follow  it  in  order 
to  avoid  surprises ;  this  being  the  hour  at  which  the 
enemy  uniformly  makes  his  attack.  i 

^  Our  waiting- women   arrived   early,    bringing 

wood  and  water.    Washing  appeared  to  me  to  be 


<  , 


■:  \' 


i7r6.] 


ADVENTURES. 


289 


SL  ceremony  of  religion  among  the  Osinipoilles ; 
and  I  never  saw  any  thing  similar  among  other  In- 
dians. 


Leaving  our  tent,  ive  made  a  progress  through 
the  village,  which  consisted  of  about  two  hundred 
tents,  each  tent  containing  from  two  to  four  fami- 
lies. We  were  attended  by  four  soldiers  of  our 
guard,  but  this  was  insufficient  for  keeping  off  the 
women  and  children,  who  crowded  round  us  with 
insatiable  curiosity.  Our  march  was  likewise  ac- 
companied by  a  thousand  dogs,  all  howling  fright- 
fully. 

From  the  village,  I  saw,  for  the  first  time,  one  of 
those  herds  of  horses  which  the  Osinipoilles  possess 
in  numbers.  It  was  feeding  on  the  skirts  of  the 
plain.  The  masters  of  these  herds  provide  them 
with  no  fodder ;  but,  leave  them  to  find  food  for 
themselves,,  by  removing  the  snow  with  their  feet, 
till  they  reach  the  grass,  which  is  every  where  on 
the  ground  in  plenty. 

At  ten  o'clock,  we  returned  to  our  tent,  and  in  a 
short  time  the  great  chief  paid  us  a  visit,  attended 
by  nearly  fifty  followers  of  distinction.  In  coming 
in,  he  gave  his  hand  to  each  of  us,  and  all  his  at- 
tendants followed  his  example.  When  we  were 
seated,  one  of  the  officers  went  through  the  cere- 
mony of  the  pipe,  after  which,  the  great  chief  deli- 

37 


!'•!) 


m§ 


■^ 


o 
296 


) 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


l» 


vered  a  speech,  of  which  the  substance  was  as'foU 
lows;  That  he  was  glad  to  see  us;  that  he  hadbeen, 
some  time  since,  informed  of  a  fort  of  the  white*.^ 
men's  being  established  on  the  Pasquayah,  an^ 
^  that  it  had  always  been  his  ititention  to  pay  a  visit 
there ;  that  we  were  our  own  masters,  to  remain  at 
our  pleasure  in  his  village,  free  from  molestation, 
and  assured  of  his  especial  protection  ;  that  the 
young  nien  had  employed  themselves  in  collecting 
meat  and  furs,  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  cer- 
tain articles,  wherewith  to  decorate  their  wives  ; 
that  within  a  few  days  he  proposed  to  move,  with 
his  vyhole  village,  on  this  errand  ;  that  nothing 
should  be  omitted  to  make  our  stay  as  agreeable 
as  possible  ;  that  he  had  already  ordered  a  party  of 
his  soldiers  to  guard  us,  and  that  if  any  thing 
should  occur  to  displease  us,  his  ear  was  always 
open  to  our  complaints. 


For  all  these  friendly  communications,  we  offer- 
ed our  thanks.  His  visit  to  the  fort  it  had  beoia 
principal  object  to  invite,      . 


After  the  speech,  the  chief  presented  us  with 
twenty  beaver-skins,  and  as  many  woff.  In  return, 
we  gave  two  pounds  of  vermilion,  and  a  few  fathom 
of  twisted  tobacco,  assuring  him,  that  when  he 
should  arrive  at  our  habitation,  we  would  endea- 
vour to  repay  the  benefits  u  hich  we  were  receiving 
from  him,  and  at  the  same  time  cheerfully  exchange 


x_ 


1776.] 


ADVENTURES. 


291 


our  merchandise,  for  the  dried  meat  and  skins  of 
his  village.  It  was  agreed  that  he  should  strike 
his  camp  at  the  end  of  five  days,  and  that  We  should 
remain  in  it  so  long,  and  accompany  it  to  the  fort. 
The  chief  now  departed  ;  and  I  believe  that  we 
were  reciprocally  pleased  with  each  other. 

A  short  time  after  he  was  gone,  we  received  an. 
invitation  to  a  feast,  from  a  subordinate  chief. 
Our  dishes  were  again  filled  with  tongues,  but 
roasted,  and  not  boiled.  To  furnish  us  with  water^ 
we  saw  an  ox's  paunch  employed  as  a  kettle.  This 
being  hung  in  the  smoke  of  a  fire,  was  filled  with 
snow  ;  and,  as  the  snow  melted,  more  was  added, 
till  the  paunch  was  full  of  water.  The  lower  orifice 
of  the  organ  was  used  for  drawing  off  the  water, 
and  stopped  with  a  plug  and  string. 

During  our  whole  stay,  we  never  had  occasion 
for  cookery  at  home  ;  but,  my  kettle  was  ii^  con- 
stant use,  and  for  the  most  part  in  preparation  of 
the  feasts  at  which  we  were  daily  guests*  In  our 
tent,  we  were  regularly  supplied  with  water,  either 
by  the  women,  or  by  the  guards. 

The  guards  were  changed  daily.  They  fre- 
quently beat  the  people,  for  disobedience  of  orders, 
and  the  offenders  made  no  resistance  to  the  chas- 
tisement. We  were  informed,  that  there  was  at 
both  extremities  of  the  camp,  or  village,  a  picket 


^■^^r  ^S'^ 


iiii 


M 


i"(''f! 


r'i'l 


uM 


292 


TRAVELS,  Sec. 


[1776. 


of  two  men,  whose  duty  it  was  not  to  allow  any 
person  to  go  beyond  the  bounds.  The  intention  of 
this  was  to  prevent  stragglers  from  falling  a  prey 
to  the  enemy.v  General  orders  were  issued  by  the 
chief,  mormng  and  evening,  and  published  fay  a 
crier,  in  every  part  of  the  camp. 

In  the  course  of  the  day,  the  great  chief  infcmn- 
cd  us,  that  he  proposed  hunting  the  wild  ox  on  the 
followmg  morning,  and  invited  us  to  be  of  the 
party. 


'II 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

fPVdOxHunt.  Dances  and  Festivity,  Musical 
Instruments*  Some  account  of  the  Piains-^In- 
habitants  to  the  Westward,  Weapons  of  War* 
Horses  originally  procured  from  the  Spaniards, 
Religious  notions  and  practtce^^^  Songs — Feasts 
^^FastS'-'Dances-^Sacrifices.  Agreement^  in 
these  and  other  particulars.,  between  the  Osini- 
poilles  and  Cristinaux,  Marriages  of  the  Indians 
in  general, — Courtship — Contracts  of  Marriage, 
Stews,  Sudatories,  or  Sweating-Houses.  Polyga- 
my, Paucity  of  Children,  Burialof  the  Dead, 
Manes.  Food  placed  on  Graves,  Monuments* 
Persons  of  the  Osinipoittes,  Dress  of  the  Women* 
Cruel  treatment  of  Slaves. 

I 

IN  the  morning,  we  went  to  the  hunt  accord- 
ingly. •  The  chief  was  followed  by  about  forty  men, 
and  a  great  number  of  women*  We  proceeded  to* 
a  small  island  on  the  plain,  at  the  distance  of  five 
miles  from  the  village.  On  our  way,  we  saw  large 
herds  of  oxen,  at  feed ;  but,  the  hunters  forbore  to 
molest  them,  lest  they  should  take  the  alarm. 


tti 


Hiil 

If 


i!i 


294 


TRAVELS  AND 


£A.D. 


^Vrrived  at  the  island,  the  women  pitched  a  few 
tents,  while  the  chief  led  his  hunters  to-  its  southern 
codf  where  there  was  a  pound,  or  enclosure.  The 
fence  was  about  four  f<^et  high,  and  formed  of 
strong  stakes  of  birch-wood,  n-attled  with  smaller 
branches  of  the  same.  The  day  was  spent  in  ma- 
king repairs ;  and  by  the  evening  all  was  ready  for 
the  hunt 

At  day-light^  several  of  the  more  expert  hunters 
were  sent  to  decoy  the  animals  into  the  pound. 
They  were  dressed  in  ox-skins,  with  the  hair  and 
horns.  Their  faces  were  covered,  and  their  ges- 
tures so  closely  resembled  those  of  the  animals 
themselves,  that  had  I  not  been  in  the  secret,  I 
should  have  been  as  much  deceived  as  the  oxen. 


At  ten  o'clock,  one  of  the  hunters  returned, 
bringing  information  of  the  herd.  Immediately,  all 
die  dogs  were  muzzled ;.  and  this  done,  the  whole 
crowd  of  men  and  women  surrounded  the  outside 
of  the  pound.  The  herd,  of  which  the  extent  was  so 
great  that  I  cannot  pretend  to  estimate  the  num- 
bers^ was  distant  half  a  mile,  advancing  slowly, 
and  frequently  stopping  to  feed.  The  part,  played 
bj'the  decoyers,  was  that  of  approaching  them 
within  hearing,  and  then  bellowing  like  themselves. 
On  hearing  the  noise,  the  oxen  did  not  fail  to  ^ve 
it  attention  ;  and,  whether  from  curio^ty  or  sym- 
patli}^,  ad\  anced  to  meet  those  from  whom  it  pro- 


1776.] 


ADVENTURES. 


295 


ceedecL  These,  in  the  mean  time,  fell  back  deli- 
berately  toward  the  pound,  always  repeating  the 
caU,  whenever  the  oxen  stopped.  I'his  was  reite- 
rated  till  the  leaders  of  the  herd  had  followed  the 
decoyers  into  the  jaws  of  the  pound,  which,  though 
wide  asunder  toward  the  plain,  terminated,  like  a 
funnel,  in  a  small  aperture,  or  gate- way;  and,  within 
this,  was  the  pound  itself.  The  Indians  remark,  that 
in  all  herds  of  animals  there  are  chiefs,  or  leaders, 
by  whom  the  motions  of  the  rest  are  determined. 

The  decoyers  now  retired  within  the  pound,  and 
were  followed  by  the  oxen.  But,  the  former  retired 
still  further,  withdrawing  themselves  at  certain 
movable  parts  of  the  fence,  while  the  latter  were 
&llen  upon  by  all  the  hunters,  and  presendy 
wounded,  and  killed,  by  showers  of  arrows.  Amid 
the  uproar  which  ensued,  the  oxen  made  several 
attempts  to  force  the  fence  ;  but,  the  Indians  stop- 
ped them,  and  drove  them  back,  by  shaking  skins 
before  their  eyes.  Skins  were  also  made  use  of  to 
stop  the  entrance,  being  let  down  by  strings,  as 
soon  as  the  oxen  were  inside.  The  slaughter  was 
prolonged  till  the  evening,  when  the  hunters  re- 
turned to  their  tents.  Next  morning,  all  the  tol^gues 
were  presented  to  the  chief,  to  the  number  of  se- 
venty-two. 

The  women  brought  the  meat  to  the  village,  on 
sledges  drawn  by  dogs.    The  lumps  on  the  shouf* 


iii 


296 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


m 


ders,  and  the  hearts,  as  well  as  the  tongues,  were 
set  apart  for  feasts ;  while  the  rest  was  consumed 
as  ordinaiy  food,  or  dried,  for  sale  at  the  fort 

•II.  The  time  was  now  passed  in  dancing  and 
festivity,  in  all  quarters  of  the  village.  On  the  even- 
ing of  the  day  after  the  hunt,  the  chief  came  to  our 
tent,  bringing  with  him  about  twenty  men,  and  as 
many  women,  who  seated  separately  themselves  as 
before;  but,  they  now  brought  musical  instruments, 
and,  soon  after  their  arrival,  began  to  play.  The 
instruments  consisted  principally  in  a  sort  of  tam- 
bourine, and  a  gourd  filled  with  stones,  which 
several  persons  accompanied  by  shaking  two 
bones  together ;  and  others  with  bunches  of  deer- 
hoofs,  fastened  to  the  end  of  a  stick.  Another  in- 
strument was  one  that  was  no  more  than  a  piece  of 
wood,  of  three  feet,  with  notches  cut  on  its  edge. 
The  performer  drew  a  stick  backward  and  forward, 
along  the  notches,  keeping  time.  The  women 
sung;  and  the  sweetness  of  their  voices  exceeded 
whatever  I  had  heard  before. 


This  entertainment  lasted  upward  of  an  hour ; 
said  when  it  was  finished  a  dance  commenced. 
The  men  formed  themselves  into  a  row  on  one 
side,  and  the  women  on  the  other ;  and  each  mo- 
ved sidewise,  first  up,  and  then  down  the  room. 
The  sound  of  bells  and  other  jingling  matyials, 
attached  to  the  women's  dresses,  enabled  them  to 


# 


1776.] 


ADVENTURES. 


297 


keep  time.  The  songs  and  dances  were  continued 
alternately,  till  near  midnight,  when  all  our  visitors 
departed. 

These  amusements  were  given  to  us  compli- 
mentarily,  by  the  chief.  He  took  no  part  in  the  per- 
formances himself ;  but,  sat  smoking  while  they 
proceeded. 

III.  It  had  been  my  wish  to  go  (Urther  on  the 
Plains,  till  I  should  have  reached  tife  moun* 
tains,  at  the  feet  of  which,  as  I  have  already 
observed,  they  lie ;  but,  the  chief  informed  me» 
that  the  latter  were  still  at  the  distance  of  many 
days' journey,  and  that  the  intervening  country  was 
a  tract  destitute  of  the  least  appearance  of  wood.  In 
the  winter,  as  he  asserted,  this  tract  cannot  be 
crossed  at  all ;  and  in  the  summer,  the  traveller  is 
in  great  danger  of  perishing  for  want  of  water ;  and 
the  only  fuel  to  be  met  with  is  the  dung  of  the 
wild  ox.  It  is  intersected  by  a  large  river,  which 
runs  to  the  sun's  rising,  and  which  has  its  sources 
ill  the  mountains. 

• 

With  regard  to  tlie  country  of  the  Osinipoilles, 
he  said,  that  it  lay  between  the  head  of  the  Pas- 
quayah,  or  Sascatchiwaine,  and  the  country  of  the 
Sioux,  or  Nadowessies,  who  inhabit  the  heads  of 
the  Missisipi.  On  the  west,  near  the  mountains, 
■  38 


% 


298 


TRAVPl-S  ANP 


[A.D, 


were  the  Snal^e  Indians  and  Black-feet,  troupe- 
some  neighbours,  by  whose  h£^lds  numbers  of  his 
warriors  fell.    " 


\ 


The  Osinipoilles  have  npiany  villages,  coinpojsed 
of  froin  one  to  two  hundred  tents  each.  Fe>yexceedi 
the  latter  number.  They  often  go  to  the  moun- 
tains, on  war-parties,  and  always  on  horsebaclf. 
Wherf  the  ^eat  chief  intends  to  go  to  war,  he 
se^id^  mt^ssengers  to  the  severai;villages,  djirecting 
the  warriors  to  meet  him  at  an  appointed  place  and 
time.  With  regard  to  the  latter,  it  is  described 
by  the  moon,  as  the  beginning,  full,  or  end.  In 
obedience  to  the  summons,  they  assemblie  in  great- 
er numbers  than  can  be  counted,*  armed  with  the 
bow,  sling  and  spear,  and  with  quivers  full  of  ar- 
rows.— They  have  still  another  weapon,  formed  of 
a  stone  of  about  two  pounds  weight,  which  is  sew- 
ed in  leather,  and  made  fast  to  a  wooden  handle,  two 
feet  long.  In  using  it,  the  stone  is  whirled  round  the 
handle ,  by  a  warrior  sitting  on  horseback ,  andattack- 
ing  at  full  speed.  Kvery  stroke,  which  takes  effect, 
brings  down  a  man,  or  horse ;  or,  if  used  in  the  chase, 
an  ox.  To  prevent  the  weapon  from  slipping  out  of 
the  hand,  a  string,  which  is  tied  to  the  handle,  is 
also  passed  round  the  wrist  of  the  wearer.  The 
horses  of  the  Osinipoilles  were  originally  procured 
froni  white  people,  with  beards,  who  live  to  the 


*  This  was  the  chief's  expression. 


# 


1776.] 


ADVENTUltES. 


299 


southard  ;  that  is,  the  Sj)kiilsh  colonists,  in  New- 
Mexico. 

/  ;  -^ 

Th^  animals,  which  I  saw  alive  on  the  Plains, 

are  oxen,  red-deer  and  wolves ;  but,  I  saw  also 
the  skins  of  foxes,  bears,  and  a  small  number  of 
panthers,  sometimes  called  tigers,  and  most  pro- 
perly, cougars,^ 

IV.  In  their  religious  notions,  as  well  as  in 
their  dressy  arms  and  other  particulars,  there  is  a 
general  agreement  between  the  Osinipoilles  and 
the  Cristinaux.t  They  believe  in  a  creator  and  go- 
vernor of  the  world,  Jil  a  future  life,  and  in  the 
spirits,  gods,  or  manitos^  whom  they  denominate 
Tluakons,  Their  practices  of  devotion  consist  in  the 
singing  of  songs,  accoriipaniedby  the  drunl,  or  rattle, 
or  both  ;  and  the  subjects  of^^hich  are  prayers  and 
praises :  ih  simokitig-f^feasts,  or  feasts  of  the  pipe,  or 
calumet,  held  in  honour  of  the  spirits,  to  whom  the 
STtioke  of  tobacco  is  supposed  to  be  a  most  accepta- 
ble incense  ;  and  in  other  feasts,  as  well  as  in  fasts 
and  in  sacrifices.     The  victims  of  sacrilice  are 


,   •  Felis  concolor. 

t  Such  of  the  Cristinaux  as  inhabit  the  Plains,  Have 
also  their  horses,  like  the  Osinipoilles.  By  language,  the 
Osinipoilles  ai*e  allied  to  the  Nadowessies  ;  but,  they  are 
always  at  war  with  therh.  Of  the  language  of  the  Nado* 
\liressi68,  Carver  has  given  a  shbrt  voctibulary. 


3 


% 


*  "1 


I 


•K,^-  ililEl 


iHiiiH 


Hi 

I'M 


i 


/r't 


w 


;iP' 


300 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


usually  dogs,  which  being  killed,  and  hung  upon 
poles,  are  left  there  to  decay. 

V.  Many  travellers  have  described  the  mar- 
riages of  the  Indians  ;  but,  as  they  have  greatly 
disagreed  in  their  delineations,  I  shall  venture 
to  set  down  such  particulars  as  have  presented 
themselves,  to  my  immediate  view.  Though  in- 
serted  here,  they  have  no  exclusive  relation  to  the 
Osinipoilles ;  all  the  Indians,  whom  I  have  seen, 
having  similar  customs  on  this  head. 

A  young  man,  desirous  of  marr}^ing  a  particular 
young  woman,  visits  the  lodge  in  which  she  lives, 
at  night,  and  when  all  the  family,  or  rather  families, 
are  sleeping  on  their  mats  around.  He  comes  pro- 
vided with  a  match,  or  splint  of  wood,  which  he 
lights  among  the  embers  of  one  of  the  fires  which 
are  in  the  middle  of  the  lodge.  The  only  intention 
of  this,  is  the  very  obvious  one,  of  finding,  by  the 
help  of  the  light,  the  young  woman  whom  he 
means  to  visit,  and  whom,  perhaps,  he  has  to  awa- 
ken. This  done,  he  extinguishes  the  light.  In 
speaking  to  her,  he  whispers,  because  it  is  not  ne- 
cessary  to  disturb  all  the  lodge ;  atid  because  some- 
thing like  privacy  and  secrecy  belong  to  the  nature 
of  the  occasion.  If  she  makes  no  reply  to  his  ad- 
dress, he  coiittiders  his  attempts  at  acquaintance  as 
repulsed,  and  in  consequence  retires.  If  the  young 
woman  receives  him  with  favour,  he  takes  part  of 


'i 


# 


1776.] 


ADVENTURES. 


301 


her  mat.  He  brings  with  him  his  own  blanket. — 
I  consider  this  practice  as  precisely  similar  to 
the  bundling  of  New-England,  and  other  coun- 
tries ;  and,  to  say  the  least,  as  not  more  licentious. 
Children,  bom  out  of  wedlock,  are  very  rare  among 
the  Indians. 

The  lover,  who  is  permitted  to  remain,  retires 
beforeday-break.  When  theyoung  woman  has  con- 
sented to  be  his  wife,  he  opens  the  affair  to  his  own 
mother,  by  whom  it  is  communicated  to  her's  ;  and 
if  the  two  mothers  agree,  they  mutually  apply  to 
their  husbands. 

.  The  father  of  the  young  man  then  invites  the 
father  of  the  young  woman  to  a  stew,  or  sudatory, 
prepared  for  the  occasion,  and  at  which  he  com- 
municates the  wishes  of  his  son.  The  father  of 
the  young  woman  gives  no  reply  till  the  day  fol- 
lowing, when,  in  his  own  turn,  he  invites  the  other 
to  the  sweating-house.  If  he  approves  of  the  match, 
the  terms  upon  which  it  is  to  be  made  are  now 
settled. 

Stews,  sudatories,  or  sweating-houses,  ai'e  re- 
sorted to  for  cure  of  sickness,  for  pleasure,  or  for 
giving  freedom  and  vigour  to  the  faculties  of  the 
mind,  when  particular  deliberation  and  sagacity  are 
called  for.  To  prepare  them  for  a  guest,  is,  there- 
fore, to  offer  every  assistance  to  his  judgment,  and 


i- ^•' 


iiU: 


!    1* 


J 


502 


TRAVJELS  AkD 


[A.  b. 


manifest  the  reveirse  of  a  disposition  to  take  an 
iinfeir  advantage  of  him  :  it  is  the  exact  opposite 
of  offering  him  liquor.  They  are  constructed  of 
slender  branches  of  trees,  united  at  the  top,  and 
closely  covered  with  skins  Or  blankets.  Within; 
water  is  poured  upon  a  red-hot  stone,  till  the  steam 
induces  perspiration. 

The  terms  are  either,  that  the  young  man,  as  was 
most  usual  in  older  times,  shall  serve  the  father  of 
the  young  woman  for  a  certain  period,  (as  for  three 
years,)  or  that  he  shall  redeem  himself  from  this 
obligation  by  a  present. 

If  he  be  to  serve,  then,  at  the  time  fixed,  he  goes, 
accompanied  by  his  father  and  mother,  to  the  lodge 
of  the  young  woman's  family.  There,'  he  is  desi- 
red, by  her  mother,  to  sit  down  on  the  same  mat 
with  her.  A  feast  is  usually  served,  and  the 
young  woman's  father  delivers  a  suitable  speech. 
The  young  man  is  thenceforward  regarded  as  one 
of  his  wife's  family,  and  remains  in  tht  lodge  ac- 
cordingly. 


lo 


If,  on  the  other  hand,  he  redeems  himself  by  a 
present,  then  his  father  and  mother  go  alone  to  the 
lodge  of  the  young  woman's  family,  carrying  a  pre- 
sent. If  the  present  bie  accepted,  they  leave  it,  and 
return  home  ;  and,  shortly  after,  the  father  and 
mother,  accompanied  by  their  daughter,  go'  tb  thi^ 


1776.] 


ADVENTURES. 


303 


lodge  of  the  bridegroom's  family,  where  the  bride 
h  desired  to  sit  down  beside  her  husband.  The 
feast  and  speech  ar^  now  made  by  the  young  man's 
father,  ^i^  the  yoVJig  vyon^an  is  received  into  his 


"^ 


Every  man  iparries  as  many  wives  as  he  pleases, 
and  as  he  ca^i  maintjain ;  and,  the  usual  number  is  from 
one  to  five.  The  oldest,  in  most  cases,  is  the  mis- 
ti;.ess  of  the  family,  and  of  the  other  wives  amonj^ 
tlie  rest.  They  appear  to  live  in  much  harmony. 
Polygamy,  among  the  Indians,  conduces  little  to' 
population.  For  the  number  of  adults,  the  chil- 
dren are  always  few. 

VI.  In  naming  a  child,  the  father  officiates,  arid 
the  ceremony  is  simple.     The  relations  are  invit(!d 
to  a  feast,  when  he  makes  a  speech,  informing  the 
guests  of  the  name  by  which  the  child  is  to  be  caUi^^ 
cd,  and  addresses  a  prayer  to  the  Great  Spirit,  pe-'^ 
titioning  for  the  child's  life  and  welfare. 

VII.  With  respect  to  the  burial  of  the  dead,  if 
the  death  happen  in  the  winter- season,  and  at  a  dis- 
tance from  the  burial-ground  of  the  family,  the 
body  invariably  accompanies  all  the  wanderings 
and  journeys  of  the  survivors,  till  the  spring,  iuid 
till  their  arri^  al  at  the  place  of  interment.  In  the 
mean  time,  it  is  every-where  rested  on  a  scaffold,^ 
out  of  the  reach  of  beasts  of  prey.     The  grave  is 


!l!!'t 

l! 


!i  a 


li 


liilii 


m 


■f  hi 


■  'H 

m 


304 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  a 


made  of  a  circular  form,  about  five  feet  deep*  and 
lined  with  bark  of  the  birch,  or  some  other  tree,  or 
with  skins.  A  seat  is  prepared,  and  the  body  is 
placed  in  a  sitting  posture,  with  supporters  on 
either  side.  If  the  deceased  be  a  man,  his  weapons 
of  war,  and  of  the  chase,  are  buried  with  hini,  as 
also  his  shoes,  and  every  thing  for  which,  as  a  living 
warrior  or  hunter,  he  would  have  occasion,  and, 
indeed,  all  his  property ;  and  I  belieVe  that  those, 
whose  piety  alone  may  not  be  strong  enough  to 
ensure  to  the  dead  the  entire  inventory  of  what 
is  supposed  to  be  necessary  for  them,  or  is  their 
own,  are  compelled  to  do  them  justice  by  another 
argument,  and  which  is,  the  fear  of  their  displea* 
sure.  A  defrauded  or  neglected  ghost,  although 
invisible,  can  disperse  the  game  of  the  plains  or 
forests,  so  that  the  hunter  shall  hunt  in  vain  ;  and, 
either  in  the  chase  or  in  the  war,  turn  aside  the  ar- 
row, or  palsy  the  arm  that  draws  the  bow :  in  the 
lodge,  it  can  throw  a  child  into  the  fire.     .  , 


The  body  and  its  accompaniments  are  covered 
with  bark  ;  the  bark  with  logs  ;  and  the  logs  with 
earth.  This  done,  a  relation  stands  up,  and  pro- 
nounces an  eulogium  on  the  deceased,  extolling  his 
virtues,  and  relating  his  exploits.  He  dwells  upon 
the  enemies  whom  he  slew,  the  scalps  and  prisoners 
which  he  took,  his  skill  and  industry  in  the  chase, 
and  his  deportment  as  a  father,  husb?r>ti,  son,  bro- 
ther, friend,  and  member  of  the  community.     At 


"f'c 


1776.] 


ADVENTURES; 


505 


each  assertion  which  he  makes,  the  speaker  strikes 
a  post,  which  is  placed  near  the  grave  j  a  gesture  of 
asseveration,  and  which  enforces  the  attention  of 
the  audience,  and  assists  in  counting  up  the 
points  delivered.  The  eulogium  finished,  the  post 
is  painted,*  and  on  it  are  represented  the  number 
of  prisoners  taken,  by  so  many  figures  of  men  ;  and 
of  killed  and  scalped,  by  figures  without  heads. 
To  these  are  added  his  badge,  called,  in  the  Algon-, 
quin  tongue,  a  toteniy  and  which  is  in  the  nature 
of  an  armorial  bearing.  It  informs  the  passing  In- 
dian of  the  family  to  which  the  deceased  belonged* 
A  serious  duty  at  the  grave,  is  that  of  placing 
food,  for  the  use  of  the  dead,  on  the  journey  to  the 
hnd  of  souls.  This  care  is  never  neglected,  even 
under  every  disadvantage  of  molestation.  In  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  traders,  dishes  of  cooked  ve* 
nison  are  very  commonly  placed  on  the  graves  of 
those  long  buried,  and  as  commonly  removed  by 
-Europeans,  even  without  offence  to  those  who 
placed  them  there.  In  situations  of  great  want,  I  have 
more  than  once  resorted  to  them  for  food. 

VIII.  The  men,  among  the  Osinipoilles,  are 
well  made ;  but,  their  colour  is  much  deeper 
than  that  of  the  more  northern  Indians.     Some  of 


*  Hence,   The  JPainted  Post ^  the  name  of  a  village   in 
Pennsylvania. 

.         39 


l||ilti 


:i  I 


■ulii 


l;,ll|l 


Ml 


d06 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


the  women  are  tolerably  handsome,  considering 
how  they  live,  exposed  to  the  extremes  of  heat 
and  cold,  and  placed  in  an  atmosphere  of  smoke, 
for  at  least  one  half  of  the  year.  Their  dress 
is  of  the  same  materials,  and  of  the  same  form, 
with  that  of  the  female  Cristinaux.  The  mar- 
tied  women  suflPer  their  hair  to  grow  at  random, 
and  even  hangover  their  eyes.  All  the  sex  is 
fond  of  garnishing  the  lower  edge  of  the  dress  with 
small  bells,  deer-hoofs,  pieces  of  metal,  or  any 
thing  capable  of  making  a  noise.  When  they 
move,  the  sounds  keep  time,  and  make  a  fantastic 
harmony. 

IX.  The  Osinipoilles  treat  with  great  cruelty^ 
their  slaves.  As  an  example,  one  of  the  principal 
chiefs,  whose  tent  was  near  that  which  we  occupied, 
had  a  female  slave,  of*  about  twenty  years  of  age. 
I  saw  her  always  on  the  outsidd4)f  the  door  of  the 
tent,  exposed  to  the  severest  cold ;  and  having 
asked  the  reason,  I  was  told,  that  she  was  a  slave, 
I'he  information  induced  me  to  speak  to  her 
master,  in  the  hope  of  procuring  some  mitigation 
of  the  hardships  she  underwent ;  but,  he  gave  me 
for  answer,  that  he  had  taken  her  on  the  other  side 
of  the  western  mountains ;  that  at  the  same  time  he 
had  lost  a  brother  and  a  son,  in  battle  ;  and  that  the 
enterprise  had  taken  place,  in  order  to  release  one 
of  his  own  nation,  who  had  been  a  slave  in  her's, 


1776.] 


ADVENTURES. 


;507 


and  who  had  been  used  with  much  greater  severity 
than  that  which  she  experienced. — The  reaUty,  of 
the  last  of  these  facts,  appeared  to  me  to  be  impos- 
sible. The  wretched  woman  fed  and  slept  with 
the  dogs,  scrambling  with  them  for  the  bones 
which  were  thrown  out  of  the  tent.  When  her 
master  was  within,  she  was  never  permitted  to  en- 
ter ;  at  all  seasons,  the  children  amused  them- 
selves with  impunity  in  tormenting  her,  thrusting 
lighted  sticks  into  her  face  ;  and  if  she  succeeded 
in  warding  off  these  outrages,  she  was  violently 
beaten.  I  was  not  successful  in  procuring  any 
diminution  of  her  sufFerhigs ;  but,  I  drew  some 
relief  from  the  idea,  that  their  duration  could  not 
be  long.     They  were  too  heavy  to  be  sustained* 


It  is  known,  that  some  slaves  have  the  good  for- 
tune to  be  adopted  into  Indian  families,  and  are  af- 
terward allowed  Jo  marry  in  them;  but,  among  the 
Osinipoilles,this  seldom  happens^  and,  even  among 
the  Chipeways,  where  a  female  slave  is  so  adopted 
and  married,  I  never  knew  her  to  lose  the  degrading 
appellation  oiwa'kan'y  a  slave.* 


n 


*  This  word,  nvakan^  which,  in  the  Algonquin  language^ 
signifies  a  slavey  is  not  to  be  confounded  with  wakan^  op 
wakon,  which,  in  the  language  of  the  Nadowe$sies  and 
Osinipoilles,  signifies  a  spirit^  or  nianito.  \ 


^        .    CHAPTER  XIV. 

Osinipoilles  strike  their  Camp,  and  march  for  Fort 
des  Prairies.  Departure.  Order  of  march. 
Join  a  second  Camp.  Herds  of  Horses — their 
•winter  stations.  OshripoiUet  reach  the  Fort, 
and  exchange  their  Skins  and  Provisions  for 
TVinkets — their  independence  on  Foreign  Trade, 
Osinipoilles  leave  the  Fort — their  Aational  Cha- 
racter. State  of  Trade  on  the  Sascatchhvaine — 
prices  of  European  Merchandise  there.  Author 
leaves  the  Forty  on  his  return  to  Beaver  Lake. 

ON  the  nineteenth  of  Febroaiy,  the  chief  appri- 
sed  us,  that  it  was  his  design  to  depart  the  next 
morning  for  the  fort  In  consequence,  we  coU 
lected  our  baggage,  which,  however,  was  but 
small ;  consisting  in  a  buflyo-robe  for  each  person, 
an  axe  and  a  kettle.  The  last  was  reluctantly 
parted  with  by  our  friends^  who  had  none  left  to 
supply  its  place. 


At  day -break,  on  the  twentietfa,  all  was  noise 
and  confusion  in  the  camp  ;  the  women  beating 
aind  loading  the  dogs,  and  the  dogs  howling  and 


1776.] 


TRAVELS,  he. 


d09 


crying.  The  tents  were  speedily  struck,  and  the 
coverings  and  poles  packed  up,  to  be  drawn  by  the 
d<^;s. 


V 


Soon  after  sunrise,  the  march  began.  In  the 
van  were  twenty-five  soldiers,  who  were  to  beat 
the  path,  so  that  the  dogs  might  walk.  They  were 
followed  by  about  twenty  men,  apparently  in  rea- 
diness for  contingent  services  ;  and  after  these 
went  the  women,  each  driving  one  or  two,  and 
some,  five  loaded  dogs.  The  number  of  these  ani- 
mals, actually  drawing  loads,  exceeded  five  huna> 
dred.  After  the  baggage,  marched  the  main  body 
of  the  men,  carrying  only  their  arms.  The  rear  was 
guarded  by  about  forty  soldiers.  The  line  of 
march  certainly  exceeded  three  miles  in  length. 

The  morning  was  clear  and  calm.  Our  road 
was  a  different  one  from  that  by  which  we  had 
reached  the  camp.  We  passed  several  herds  of 
wild  oxen,  which  betrayed  some  alarm  at  the  noise 
of  the  d<^  and  women,  resounding  on  every 
side. 

Our  march  was  pursued  till  sunset,  when  we 
reached  a  small  wood,  the  first  that  we  had  seen  all 
day.  The  great  chief  desired  Mr.  Patterson  and 
myself  to  lodge  in  his  own  tent,  and  we  accord- 
ingly became  part  of  his  family.    We  saw  that  his 


m 


310 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


entire  and  numerous  household  was  composed  of 
relations.  l*he  chief,  after  smoking  his  pipe,  de- 
termined the  line  of  march  for  the  next  day  ;  and 
his  dispositions  in  this  regard  were  immediately 
published  through  the  camp. 

At  day -break,  our  tents  were  again  struck,  and 
we  proceeded  on  our  march,  in  the  same  order  as 
the  day  before.  To-day,  (to  follow  the  phraseology 
of  the  Plains,)  we  had  once  land  in  sight ,  consisting 
in  two  small  islands^  lying  at  a  great  distance  from 
our  road.  On  our  march,  the  chief  informed  us, 
that  he  proposed  reaching  another  camp  of  his  peo- 
ple that  evening,  and  would  take  it  with  him  to  the 
fort.  Accordingly,  at  about  four  o'clock  in  the  af- 
ternoon, we  discovered  a  wood,  and  presently  after- 
ward saw  smoke  rising  from  it.  At  sunset,  we 
encamped  near  the  wood,  where  we  found  a  hun- 
dred  tents.  We  were  not  long  arrived,  before  the 
chiefs  of  this  second  camp  paid  a  visit  to  the  Great 
Road,  who  informed  them  of  his  intention  to  visit 
the  fort,  and  recommended  to  them  to  join  his 
march.  They  consented,  and  orders  were  given  as 
usual,  by  a  public  officer. 


Then^;ht  afforded  me  but  little  sleep,  so  greatwas 
the  disturbance,  firom  noises  of  all  kinds ; — feasting 
and  dancing ;  the  women  chastising  the  dogs ;  the 
dogs  of  the  two  camps  meeting,   and  maintaining 


IT76.] 


ADVENTURES. 


311 


against  each  other,  the  whole  night  long,  a  univer^ 
sal  war. 


In  the  morning,  the  two  camps  united  in  one  line 
of  march,  which  was  now  so  far  extended,  that  those 
in  the  rear  could  not  descry  the  front.  At  noon, 
we  passed  a  small  wood,  where  we  saw  horses  feed- 
ing. The  Indians  informed  me,  that  they  belong- 
ed to  one  of  their  camps,  or  villages  ;  and  that  it 
was  their  uniform  custom  to  leave  their  horses, 
in  the  beginning  of  winter,  at  the  first  wood  where 
they  were  when  the  snow  fell,  at  which  the 
horses  always  remain  through  the  season,  and 
where  their  masters  are  sure  to  find  them  in  the 
spring.  The  horses  never  go  out  of  sight  of  the 
island  assigned  them,  winter  or  summer,  for  fear 
of  wanting  its  shelter  in  a  storm. 

We  encamped  this  evening  among  some  small 
brush- wood.  Our  tire  went  out  accidentally  in  the 
night ;  and  I  was  kept  awake  by  the  cold,  and  by 
the  noise  of  the  dogs. 

In  the  course  of  the  next  day,  the  twenty-third 
of  the  month,  we  passed  several  coppices,  and  saw 
that  the  face  of  the  country  was  changing,  and  that 
v'c  had  arrived  on  the  margin  of  the  Plains.  On 
lii.  twenty-seventh,  we  encamped  on  a  large  wood, 
where  the  Indians  resolved  on  leaving  the  old  wo- 
men and  children,  till  their  return  from  the  fort, 


31^ 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


from  which  we  were  now  distant  only  one  day's 
march.  On  the  twenty-eighth,  they  hahed  for 
the  whole  day  ;  but,  we  engaged  two  of  them  to 
lead  us  forward,  and  thus  arrived  in  the  evening  at 
the  fort,  where  we  found  all  well.  A  large  band 
of  Cristinaux  had  brought  skins  from  the  Beaver 
River. 

Next  day,  the  Indians  advanced  their  camp  to 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  fort,  but  left  thirty  tents 
behind  them  in  the  wood.  They  continued  with 
us  three  days,  selling  their  skins  and  provisions, 
for  trinkets. 


It  is  not  in  this  manner  that  the  Northern  Indians 
dispose  of  the  harvest  of  the  chase.  With  them,  the 
principal  purchases  are  of  necessaries ;  but,  the 
Osinipoilles  are  lessdej>endent  on  our  merchandise. 
The  wild  ox  alone  supplies  them  with  every  thing 
which  thev  are  accustomed  to  want.  The  hide  of 
this  animal,  when  dressed,  furnishes  soft  clothing 
for  the  women ;  and,  dressed  with  the  hair  on,  it 
clothes  the  men.  The  flesh  feeds  them  ;  the  si- 
news aiFord  them  bow-strings ;  and  even  the 
paunch,  as  we  have  seen,  provides  them  with  that 
important  utensil,  the  kettle.  The  amazing  num- 
bers of  these  animals  prevent  all  fear  of  want ;  a 
fear  which  is  incessandy  present  to  the  Indians  of 
the  north.  -■^ 


1776.] 


ADVENTURES. 


313 


On  the  fowrth  morning,  theOsinipoillcs  departed. 
The  Great  Road  expressed  himself  much  satisfied 
with  his  reception,  and  he  was  well  deserving  of  a 
good  one  ;  foF  in  no  situation  could  strangers  have 
been  treated  mor^  hospitably  than  we  were 
treated  in  his  camp.  The  best  of  every  thing  it 
contained  was  given  us.  , 

TheOsinipoillcs,  at  this  period,  had  had  no  ac- 
quaintance with  any  foreign  nation,  sufficient  to  af- 
fect their  ancient  and  pristine  habits.  Like  the 
other  Indians, they  were  cruel  to  their  enemies;  but, 
as  far  as  the  experience  of  myself  and  other  Eu- 
ropeans authorises  me  to  speak,  they  were  a 
harmless  people,  with  a  large  share  of  simplicity  of 
manners,  and  plain -dealing.  They  lived  in  fear  of 
the  Cristinaux,  by  whom  they  were  not  only  fre- 
quently imposed  upon,  but  pillaged,  when  the 
latter  met  their  bands,  in  smaller  numbers  than 
their  own.  - 

As  to  the  Cristinaux,  they  are  a  shrewd  race  of 
men,  and  can  cheat,  lie,  and  sometimes  steal ;  yet 
even  the  Cristinaux  are  not  so  much  addicted  to 
stealingas  is  reported  of  the  Indians  of  the  South  Sea : 
their  stealing  is  pilfering  ;  and  they  seldom  pilfer 
any  thing  but  r«m,  a  commodity  which  tempts 
them  Jbeyond  the  power  of  resistance. 


40 


« 


314 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


I  remained  at  Fort  des  Prairies  till  the  twenty- 
second  of  March,  on  which  day  I  commenced  my 
return  to  Beaver  Lake. 

Fort  des  Prairies,  as  already  intimated,  is  built 
on  the  margin  of  the  Pasquayah,  or  Sascatchiwaine, 
which  river  is  here  two  hundred  yards  across,  and 
flows  at  the  depth  of  thirty  f^et  below  the  level  of  its 
banks.  The  fort  has  an  area  of  about  an  acre,  which 
is  enclosed  by  a  good  stockade,  though  formed  only 
of  poplar,  or  aspen- wood,*  such  as  the  country 
affords.  It  has  two  gates,  which  are  carefully 
shut  every  evening,  and  has  usually  from  fifty  to 
eighty  men  for  its  defence. 

Four  different  interests  were  struggling  for  the 
Indian  trade  of  the  Sascatchiwaine ;  but,  fortunate- 
ly, they  had  this  year  agreed  to  join  their  stock, 
and  when  the  season  was  over,  to  divide  the  skins 
and  meat.  This  arrangement  was  beneficial  to  the 
merchants ;  but,  not  directly  so  to  the  Indians,  who, 
having  no  other  place  to  resort  to,  nearer  than  Hud- 
son's Bay,  or  Cumberland  House,  paid  greater 
prices  than  if  a  competition  had  subsisted.  A 
competition,  on  the  other  hand,  afflicts  the  Indians 
with  a  variety  of  evils,  in  a  different  form. 


'KThis  fort,  orone  which  occupied  a  contiguous  site,  was 

fprmerly  known  by  the  name  of  Fort  aux  Trembles, 

/ 


1776.] 


ADVENTURES. 


315 


The  following  were  the  prices  of  goods  at  Fort 
des  Prairies : 


A  gun,  -        -        • 

A  Stroud  blanket, 

A  white      do. 

An  axe,  of  one  pound  weight, 

Haifa  pint  of  gunpowder. 

Ten  balls,      -        *. 


20  beaver-skins. 


10 
8 
3 
1 
1 


do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 


but,  the  principal  profits  accrued  from  the  sale  of 
knives,  beads,  flints,  steels,  awls  and  other  small 
articles. 


Tobacco,  when  sold,  fetched  one  beaver-«kin 
per  foot  of  Spencer'* s  twist;  and  rum,  not  very 
strong,  two  beaver-skins  per  bottle  :  but,  a  great 
proportion  of  these  commodities  was  disposed  of 
in  presents. 

The  quantity  of  furs  brought  into  the  fort  was 
very  great.  From  twenty  to  thirty  Indians  arrived 
daily,  laden  with  packs  of  beaver-skins. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


m 


Author  arrives  at  Beaver  Lake,  Subsistence  be-- 
comes  scarce.  Supply  of  Water -forwL  Voyage 
to  the  ^issinipi.  Voyage  on  the  Missinipi,  to- 
ward  Lake  Arabuthccrw,  or  Athabasca.  Chepewy^ 
ans — Dress — Manners — authority  of  the  Chiefs^ 
and  their  care  of  the  People,  Impositions  of  En- 
glish Traders,  and  credulity  of  the  Indians. 
Voyage  from  the  Missinipi  to  the  Grand  Portage, 
IVild  scene  on  Beaver  Lake,  Author,  in  company^ 
with  Mr.  Frobisher,  arrives  at  the  Grand  Por- 
tage— and  at  Montreal, 


THE  days  being  now  lengthened,  and  the  snow 
capable  of  bearing  the  foot,  we  travelled  swiftly  j 
and  the  weather,  though  cold,  was  very  fine. 


On  the  fifth  of  April,  we  arrived,  without  acci- 
dent, at  Cumberland  House.  On  our  way,  we 
saw  nothing  living,  except  wolves,  who  followed 
us  in  great  numbers,  and  against  whom  we  were 
obliged  to  use  the  precaution  of  maintaining  large 
fires  at  our  encampmerits. 


1776.] 


TRAVELS,  fcc. 


317 


On  the  seventh,  we  left  Cumberland  House ;  and 
on  the  ninth,  in  the  morning,  reached  our  fort  on 
Beaver  Lake,  where  I  had  the  pleasure  of  finding 
my  friends  well. 

In  my  absence,  the  men  had  supported  them- 
selves by  fishing  ;  and  they  were  all  in  health,  with 
the  exception  of  one,  who  was  hurt  at  the  Grand 
Portage,  by  a  canoe's  falling  upon  him. 

\   ■  ^^ 

On  the  twelfth,  Mr.  Thomas  Frobisher,  with 
six  men,  was  despatched  to  the  river  Churchill, 
where  he  was  to  prepare  a  fort,  and  inform  such 
Indians,  as  he  might  see  on  their  way  to  Hudson's 
Bay,  of  the  approaching  arrival  of  his  partners. 

The  ice  was  still  in  the  same  state  as  in  January ; 
but,  as  the  season  advanced,  the  quantity  of  fish 
diminished,  insomuch  that  Mr.  Joseph  Frobisher 
and  myself  were  obliged  to  fish  incessantly ;  and 
often,  notwithstanding  every  exertion,  the  men 
went  supperless  to  bed.  In  a  situation  like  tliis, 
the  Canadians  are  the  best  men  in  the  world  ;  thev 
rarely  murmur  at  their  lot,  and  their  obedience  is 
yielded  cheerfully. 

We  continued  fishing  till  the  fifth  of  May,  when 
we  saw  swans,  flying  toward  the  Maligne.  From 
this  circumstance,  and  from  our  knowledge  of  the 
rapidity  of  the  current  of  that  river,  we  supposed 


/ 


318 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


It  was  free  from  ice.  In  consequence,  I  proceeded 
thither,  and  arriving  in  the  course  of  a  day's  jour- 
ney, found  it  covered  with  swans,  geese  and  other 
water-fowl,  with  which  I  soon  loaded  my  sledge, 
and  then  returned  to  the  fort. 

The  passage,  toward  the  Churchill,  being  thus 
far  open,  we  left  our  fort  on  the  twenty-first  of  May, 
forty  in  number,  and  with  no  greater  stock  of  pro- 
vision than  a  single  supper.  At  our  place  of  en- 
campment, we  set  our  nets,  and  caught  more  fish 
than  we  had  need  of ;  and  the  same  food  was  plen- 
ty with  us  all  the  way.  The  fish  were  pickerel  and 
white-fish.  >      . 


in 


On  the  twenty-second,  we  crossed  two  carrying- 
places,  of  half  a  mile  each,  through  a  level  country, 
with  marshes  on  the  border  of  the  river.  The  sun 
now  appeared  above  the  horizon,  at  half  past  eight 
o'clock  in  the  morning ;  and  there  was  twilight  all 
the  time  that  he  was  btlow  it.  The  men  had  but  few 
hours  for  rest ;  for,  after  encamping,  a  supper  was 
not  only  to  be  cooked,  but  caught,  and  it  was 
therefore  Jate  before  they  went  to  sleep.  Mr.  Fro- 
bisher  and  myself  rose  at  three  ;  and  the  men  were 
stirring  still  earlier,  in  order  to  take  up  ttiC  nets,  so 
that  we  might  eat  our  breakfast,  and  be  on  our 
journey,  before  sunrise. 


1776.5 


ADVENTURES. 


319 


On  the  sixth  of  June,  we  arrived  at  a  large  lake, 
which,  to  our  disappointment,  was  entirely  frozen 
over,  and  at  the  same  time  the  ice  was  too  weak  to 
be  walked  upon.  We  were  now  fearful  of  deten- 
tion for  several  days ;  but  had  the  consolation  to 
find  our  situation  well  supplied  with  fish.  On 
the  following  night  there  was  a  fall  of  snow, 
which  lay  on  the  ground  to  the  depth  of  a  foot. 
The  wind  was  from  the  north-east.  The  Indians 
who  were  of  our  party  hunted,  and  killed  several 
elks,  or  moose-deer.  At  length,  the  wind  changed 
into  the  southern  quarter,  on  which  we  had  rain, 
aiid  the  snow  melted.  On  the  tenth,  with  some 
difficulty,  we  crossed  the  lake,  which  is  twenty 
miles  in  length,  through  a  channel  opened  in  the 
ice.  On  the  fifteenth,  after  passing  several  car- 
rying-places, we  reached  the  river  Churchill,  Mis- 
sinibi,  or  Missinipi,  where  we  found  Mr.  Thomas 
Frobisher  and  his  men,  who  were  in  good  health, 
and  had  built  a  house  for  our  reception. 


The  whole  country,  from  Beaver  Lake  to  the 
Missinipi,  is  low  near  the  water,  with  mountains  in 
the  distance.  The  uplands  have  a  growth  of  small 
pine-trees,  and  the  valleys,  of  birch  and  spruce. 
The  river  is  called  the  Churchill  River j  from  Fort 
Churchill,  in  Hudson's  Bay,  the  most  northerly  of  the 
company's  factories  or  trading-houses,  and  which 
is  seated  at  its  mouth.  By  Mr.  Joseph  Frobisher,  it 
was  named  English  River,  At  the  spot  where  our 


320 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.  D. 


house  was  built,  the  river  is  five  miles  wide,  and 
very  deep.  We  were  estimated,  by  the  Indians,  to 
be  distant  three  hundredmiles  from  the  sea.  Cum- 
berland House  was  to  the  southward  of  us,  distant 
four  hundred  miles.  We  had  the  light  of  the  sun, 
in  sufficient  quantit}-  for  all  purposes,  during  the 
whole  twenty-four  hours.  The  redness  of  his  rays 
reached  far  above  the  horizon. 


We  were  in  expectation  of  a  particular  band  of 
Indians,  and  as  few  others  made  their  appearance, 
we  resolved  on  ascending  the  river  to  meet  them, 
and  even,  in  failure  of  that  event,  to  go  as  fer 
westward  as  Lake  Arabuthcow,*  distant,  accord- 
ing to  the  Indians,  four  hundred  and  fifty  miles. 

With  these  views,  we  embarked  on  the  six- 
teenth, with  six  Canadians,  and  also  one  Indian 
woman,  in  the  capacity  of  a  guide,  in  which  service 
Mr.  Frobisher  had  previously  employed  her. 


As  we  advanced,  we  found  die  river  frequently 
widening  into  lakes,  thirty  miles  long,  and  so  broad, 
as  well  as  so  crowded  with  islands,  that  we  were 
unable  to  distinguish  the  main  land  on  either  side. 
Above  them,  we  found  a  strait,  in  which  the  chan- 
nel was  shallow,  rocky  and  broken,  with  the  at- 
tendant features  of  rapidr  and  carrying-places. 


*  Called  also  jithafitucovfj  and  Athaba»ca, 


irfe.] 


ADVENTURES. 


321 


T(ie  country  was  mountainous,  and  thinly  wr>oded; 
and  the  banks  of  the  river  were  contihuei  rocks. 
Higher  up,  lofty  mountains  discovered  themselves, 
destitute  even  of  moss ;  and  it  was  only  at  inters 
vals,  that  we  saw  a&r  o£f  a  few  stunted  pine-trees. 

On  the  fifth  day,  we  reached  the  Rapide  du  Ser^ 
pent,  which  is  supposed  to  be  thvee  hundred  miles 
from  our  point  of  departure.  We  found  white-fish, 
so  numerous,  in  all  the  rapids,  that  shoals  of  many 
thousands  wei^  visible,  with  their  backs  above  the 
water.  The  men  supplied  themselves  by  killing 
them  with  their  paddles.  The  water  is  clear  and 
transparent. 

The  Rapide  du  Serpent,  is  about  three  ihiles 
long,  and  very  sr/ift.  Above  this,  we  reached  ano- 
ther rapid,  over  the  carrying-place  of  which  we 
carried  our  c^moe.  At  this  place^  vegetation  began 
to  re-appero* ;  and  the  country  became  level,  and 
of  an  agreeable  aspect.  Nothing  human  had  hi* 
therto  discovered  itself ;  but,  v/e  had  seen  several 
bears,  and  two  canbgtix^  on  the  sides  of  the  moun- 
tains,  without  being  able  to  kill  any  thing. 

The  course  of  the  river  was  here  from  south  to 
north.  We  continued  our  voyage  till  the*  twen- 
ty-fourth, when,  a  large  opening  being  before  us, 
we  saw  a  number  of  cant)es,  filled  with  Indians,  on 

41 


I 


3S2 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.a 


^TJ 


n 


their  voyage  down  the  stream.    Wc  soon  met  each 
other,  ill  the  most  friendly  manner. 

We  made  presents  of  tobacco  to  the  chiefs,  and 
were  by  them  requested  to  put  to  shore,  that  we 
might  encamp  together,  and  anprove  our  acquaint- 
ance. Tn  a  short  time,  we  were  visited  by  the 
chiefs,  who  brought  us  bearer-skins,  in  return  for 
which  we  gave  a  second  present ;  and  we  now 
proposed  to  them  to  return  with  tfaem  to  our  fort, 
where  we  were  provided  with  large  quantities  of 
such  goods  as  they  wanted.  They  received  our 
proposal  with  satisfaction. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  June,  Vre  embarked,  with 
all  the  Indians  in  our  company,  and  continued  our 
voysige  day  and  night,  stopping  only  to  boil  our 
kettle.    We  reached  our  house  on  the  first  of  July. 

The  Indians  comprised  two  bands,  or  parties, 
each  bearing  the  name  of  its  chief,  of  whom  one 
was  called  the  Marten,  and  the  other,  the  Rapid. 
They  had  joined  for  mutual  defence,  against  the 
Cristinaux,  of  whom  they  were  in  continual  dread. 
They  were  not  at  war  with  that  nadbn,  but  sub- 
ject to  be  pillaged  by  its  bands. 

While  the  lodges  of  the  Indians  were  setting  up, 
the  chiefs  paid  us  a  visit,  at  which  they  received  a 
large  present  of  merchandise,  and  agreed  to  our 


I77«.] 


ADVENTURES. 


323 


request,  that  we  should  be  permitted  to  purchase 
the  furs  of  their  bands. 

They  inquire<l,  whether  or  not  we  had  any  rum ; 
and,beinganswered  in  the  affirmative,  they  observed, 
that  several  of  their  young  men  had  never  tasted 
that  liquor,  and  that  if  it  was  too  strong  it  would 
affect  their  heads.  Our  rum  was  in  consequence 
submitted  to  their  judgment ;  and,  after  tasting  it 
several  times,  they  pronounced  it  to  be  too  strong, 
and  requested  that  we  would  order  a  part  of  the 
spirit  to  evaporate.  We  complied,  by  adding  more 
water,  to  what  had  received  a  largt  proportion  of 
that  element  before  ;  and,  this  being  done,  the 
chiefs  signified  their  approbation. 

We  remarked,  that  no  other  Indian  approached 
our  house,  while  the  chiefs  were  in  it.  The 
-chiefs  observed  to  us,  ^t  their  young  men,  while 
sober,  would'  not  be  guilty  of  any  irregularity  ; 
but,  that  lest,  when  in  liquor,  they  should  be  trou- 
blesome, they  had  ordered  a  certain  number  not  to 
drink  at  all,  but  maintain  a  constant  guard.  We 
found  their  orders  punctually  obeyed ;  and  not  a 
man  attempted  to  enter  our  house,  during,  all  the 
night.  I  say,  ail  the  night ;  because  it  was  in  the 
course  of  this  night,  the  next  day,  and  the  night 
following,  t!iat  our  traffic  was  pursued  and  finished. 
The  Indians  delivered  their /skins  at  a  smallij&i- 
dow,  made  for  that  purpose,  asking,  at  the  same 


324 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


time,  for  the  difierent  things  they  wished  to  pur- 
chase,  and  of  which  the  prices  had  been  previously 
setded  wiUi  the  chiefs.  Of  these,  some  were  high« 
er  than  those  quoted  from  Fort  des  Prairies. 

On  the  third  mornings  this  little  fair  was  closed  ; 
and,  on  making  up  our  packs,  we  found,  that  we  had 
purchased  twelve  thousand  beaver-skins,  besides 
large  numbers  of  otter  and  marten. 


Our  customers  were  from  Lake  Arabuthcow, 
of  which,  and  the  surrounding  country,  they  were 
the  proprietors,  and  at  which  they  had  wintered. 
They  informed  us,  that  there  was,  at  the  further  end 
of  that  lake,  a  river,  called  Peace  River,  which 
descended  from  the  Stony  or  Rocky  Mountains, 
and  from  which  mountains  the  distance  to  the  salt 
lakcy  meaning  the  Pacific  Ocean,  was  not  great ; 
that  the  lake*emptied  hself  by  a  river,  wl)ich  ran  to 
the  northward,  which  they  called  Kiratchinmi  Sibiy* 
or  Slave  River,t  and  which  flows  into  another 
]ake>  called  by  the  same  name ;  but,,  whether  this 
lake  was  or  was  not  the  sea,  or  whether  it  emptied 
itself  or  not  into  the  sea,  they  were  unable  to 
say.    They  were  at  war  with  the  Indians  who  live 


•  Or  Y-atchArUm  Sifiii 


C 


t  These  are  the  rivers  which  have  since  been  explored  by 

Sir  Alexander  Mackenzie.  — ^ 

.  < 


irf6.] 


ADVENTURES^ 


S25 


at  the  bottom  of  the  river,  v^here  the  water  is  salt. 
They  also  made  war  on  the  people  beyond  the 
mountains,  toward  the  Pacific  Ocean,  to  which 
their  warriors  had  frequently  been  near  enough  to 
'  see  it.  Though  we  conversed  with  these  people 
in  the  Cree,  or  Cristinaux  language,  which  is  the 
usual  medium  of  communication,  they  were  Chepe- 
wyans,  or  Rocky  Mountain  Indians. , 


.  They  were  in  possession  of  several  ultramon- 
tane prisoners,  two  of  whom  we  purchased  :  one, 
a'woman  of  twenty-five  years  of  age ;  and  the  other, 
a  boy  of  twelve.  They  had  both  been  recently  ta;- 
ken,  and  were  unable  to  speak  the  language  of  their 
masters.  They  conversed  with  each  other  in  a 
language  exceedingly  agreeable  to  the  ear,  compo- 
sed of  short  words,  and  spoken  with  a  quick  utter- 
ance.    We  gave  for  each  a  gUi^ 

The  dress  of  the  Chepewyans  nearly  resembled 
that  of  the  Cristinaux  ;  except  that  it  was  compo- 
sed of  beaver  and  marten-skins,  instead  of  tliose  of 
the  ox  and  elk.  We  found  these  people  orderly 
and  unoffending ;  and  they  appeared  to  consider 
the  whites  as  creatures  iof  a  superior  order,  to 
whom  every  thing  is  known. 

The  women  were  dirty,  and  very  inattentive  to 
their  whole  persons,  the  head  excepted,  which  they 
paintedwli^  red  ochre,  in  defect  of  vernrilion.  Both 


!ii 


326 


TRAVELS  AND 


[A.D. 


themselves,  and  their  husbands  for  tlmn,  were  for- 
ward  in  seeking  a  loose  intercourse  with  the  Euro- 
peans. The  former  appeared  vain  of  solicitation,  and 
having  iir^t  ob^ned  the  consent  of  their  husbands, 
afterward  communicated  to  them  their  success^ 
The  men,  who^  no  doubt  thought  with  the  Cris- 
tinaux  on  this  subject,^  were  the  first  to  speak  in 
behalf  of  their  wives  ;  and  were  even  in  the  prac- 
tice of  carrying  them  to  Hildson'sBay,  a  journey  of 
ihany  hundred  miles,  on  no  other  errand. 

Having  been  fortunate  enough  to  administer 
medical  relief  to  one  of  these  Indians,  during  their 
stay,  I  came  to  be  considered  as  a  physician,  and 
found  that  this  was  a  character  held  in  high  venera- 
tion. Their  solicitude  and  credulity,  asi  to  drugs 
and  nostrums,  had  exposed  them  to  gross  decep- 
tions, on  the  part  of  the  agents  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company.  One  of  the  chiefs  informed  me, 
that  he  had  been  at  the  Bay  the  year  before,  and 
there  purchased  a  quantity  of  medicines,  wliich  he 
would  allow  me  to  inspect.  Accordingly,  he 
brought  a  bag,  containing  numerous^  Imkll  papers, 
in  which  I  found  lumps  of  white  sugar,  grains  of 
coffee,  pepper,  allspice,  cloves,  tea,  nutmegs,  gin- 
ger and  other  things  of  this  kind,  sold  as  specifics 
against  evil  spirits,  and  against  the  dangers  of  bat- 
tle ;  as  giving  power  over  enemies,  and  particu- 
larly the  white  bear,  of  which  the  Indians  in  these 
latitudes  are  much  afraid  :— others  wlw  infallible 

*See  page  249. 


s^- 


o- 


\7U.^ 


ADVENTURES. 


327 


agdnst  bairepness  in  women;  against  difficuU  la- 
bours;  and  against  a  variety  of  other  afflictions.  In 
a  second  parcel,  I  found  small  prints ;  the  identical 
ones,  which,  in  England,  are  cofnmonW^^  sold  in 
sheets  to  children,  but  each  of  which  wa|  here 
transformed  into  a  t|u^  for  the  cure  of  some 

evil,  or  obtention  ra^ome  deligHI :— No.  1. /*A 
«  sailorltissing  hismi^ss,  on  his  return  from 
"  sea  ;" — this,  worn  jupit  the  person  of  a  gallant, 
attracted,  though  coh^Hed,  the  affections  of  the 
sex  !  No.  2.  "  A  soldier  in  arms  ;"— this  poured' 
a  sentiment  of  valour  into  the  possessor,  and  j^kve 
him  tin  strength  of  a  giant ! 


By  means  of  these  commodflpes,  many  cus- 
tomers were  ^cured  tothe  company;  and  even 
tho^|^j^ans,^o  shortened  their  voyage  by  deal- 
ing wi^  us,  sent  forward  one  canoe,  laden  with 
beaver-skins,  to  purqjbase  articles  of  this  kind,  at 
Cumberland  House.i:  J  did  not  venture  to  dispute 
their  value.  .  ' 


This  pa|^of  our  commercial  adventure  comple- 
ted, Mr.  Frobisher  and  myself  left  the  remainder 
of  our  merchandise  in  the  care  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Frobisher,  who  was  to  proceed  with  them  to  Lake 
Arabuthcow;  and,  on  the  fourth  of  July,  set  out  on 
our  return  to  the  Grand  Portage. 


^ 


32§ 


TRAVELS  A>rt) 


In  recrossing  Beaver  kake,  the  wild  obliged  us 
to  put  into  a  ba]^  which  I  had  not  visited  before. 
Taking  my  gun,  I  went  into  the  woods,  in  search 
of  game  ^  but,  l|iad  hot  advanced  more  than  half  a 
mile,  when  t  found  the  country  almost  inaccessi- 
ble^y  reason  of  masses  of  ro«kjjif|[|iich  were  scatter- 
ed in  all  directflhs  :  some  were  as  large  as  houses, 
and  lay  as  if  they  had  l^en  first  thrown  into  the  . 
air,  and  then  suffered  to  npinto  their  present  pos- *• 
t^re.  By  a  circuitous  route,  I  at  last  ascended  the 
"^^iQQuntain,  from  one  side  of  which  they  had  fallen ; 
the  whole  body  was  fractured,  and  separated  by  large 
isms.  In  some  places,  parts  of  the  mounlbin,  of 
If  an  acre  in  surface,  were  raised  above  the  ge- 
neral level.  I^^as  a  scene  for  the  warfare  of  the 
Titans,  or  for  diat  of  Milton's  ang^s ! 


The  river^«which,  when  we  first  arrived  |t  Cum- 
berland House,  had  run  with  a  swift  current  into 
the  Sascatchiwaine,  now  ran  in  a  contrary  direc- 
tion, toward  the  lake.  This  was  owing  to  the  rise 
of  water  in  the  Sascatchiwaine,  from  which  same 
cause  all  the  lowlands  were  at  this^me  over- 
flowed. . 

Our  twilight  nights  continued  till  we  were  to  the 
^uthward  of  Lake  Winipegon.  THe  weather  was 
so  favourable,  that  we  crossed  that  lake  in  six  days; 
though,  in  going,  it  took  us  thirty. 

-  -  ■    ■  '*• 


V 


#• 


■  -.'^yv^T' 


^ 


w 


\k 


t6.] 


TtJIfcES. 


«329 


^^9"  ?"  pHii  in  the  Lake  of  tl4  Woods,  we  saw 
^feraSl^hS,  >tow*M^^|j^ 
^^rchfee  provis^,  ft^igl^^  were  mudl^ 
^p  i^^ow^^^  stoi^,  Aat  some 

s^ge  natijIiB^tjpred  MontrSal,  talfen  Qu6- 

bec,  ^.^^^«*a^^^fiC^  aiid^ould  certainly  be 

^^GrancfP^^  before  w*r 


Je  bpfore  we^rrivcd  there 


On  mj  remarkiMM^Ir.  Frobisher,  that 
pected  Jie  j&ffj^«r  (  ^ 

colonists)    had    been  |oing   some    nl_ 
'^"-Ma,  the  Indians  directiy  exclaimed, 
is  the  name  !  #  iJrt^foi^/icts."— Th 
from  the  Grand  PorttJllfcdappe 
sly  ajmrehensive   iHasJ^j^^aitonm 
ing  inlpie  north.west,% 


"*'■ 


^j!, 


P^' 


* 


;rewerc 


'  the'  Forks  of  the  Riy§|a  ll 
^1!^^  J|P^^^^^»^W  Wilder  d-._..^  ^^^ 
with  wnfat  lattii^had  had  a  previous  acquaint 
^^^>y  visiting  hm,  he  told  me,  that  t 
^'^^B^J^t  ^^^  then#epeated  the  s|oxy 
we  lOp^ard  en  the  Lake  of  the  Woods^ll«idi% 
that  soiiief  of  his  young  men  were  evil  inclmcd,  and 

^J^aatonmia  (J?o«W«a/«,Bostonian8)isthename 
^e  Canadians  des^e  all  the  iiihabitants  of  the      ^.  ^ 

lilonics,    now  thrntTnited   Staties ;    and    in  the    i£^ 
westj^hellngUsh  traders  c<>mmwl|use  the  French  lan- 


"■   .1 


ff-;/-> 


*f- 


42 


^^Pl^'. 


-M 


m' 


.''■'«jp> 


m 


"*: 


'JM.|,  •'-  "  '■   '-"^y-'cy'??!? 


M 


sf-.. 


TRAVEts,  fcc. 


jthat  tas^ia$«i  tis  iiiiiaed^ 
liireiuitdeaf  to  ib^ai3i^ili^Mm0 

A?trfe  were  Fougi^  iiHportiiiiitf^ibr*ro 
dhe  of  liie  likens,  after  ym 


,  fetcli- 
ed  his  gun^  andjred  W  ui^K  Hut  without 

^  l4  furttir  accid^  at^JP  our  voy^e  to  the 
^mgCy  ftoii^Mch  pace  Nv^  pu^kued  Ac 
'ontr^al,  where  ife  arrived  on  the  fifteeh&  ^ 
r.     We  found  tis  pix)vince  deli 
irruption  of  the  .cflonists,  and  prow 

ne* 


«^,'  1 


M. 


Mb 


A       f 


''t 


■m 


« 


^ 


&.. 


pijf 


^. 


r   ■ 


*, 


M-^ 


^\ 


W 


*. 


■  ^■ 


•i   %. 


■1* 


&v» 


;-.^ 


r6i 


^-jt 


i'  *■' 

^3^- 


# 


iind 
ch- 
[but 


'^«>« 


4' 


\f^--^^a- , 


■*«'■ 


.'"iT, 


f^ 


tlie         -^' 


'€, 


* 


F)«e  S^  aote,  for  «  Amfifcie,"  m^^^Micrwc  / 


^^- 

.•■  ^.  -J    .  • 
%  fc,. 

_  ji ,."." "  ,  ■,.,  1 

;  i-^jfe. 

-    k.*': 

•'   4-ki-.^:k,.^.. . 

